Praise Poem for Danu

by Erynn Rowan Laurie

A mountain is she
standing as the highest peak
her blood flows clear water
rising across the plain,
lips spread wide
to speak her names into the world.
Canyons fill with her,
the rising gorge walls
her vast domain.
Mother mountain
river mother
older than the Hawk of Aichill
more ancient than language,
spring and autumn alike
her bold epiphany,
lips spread wide
to birth all things into the world.
Mother mountain
river mother
rooted in glacier's path,
strong as stone
that stands against the sea,
lips spread wide
in loudest of groans
that separates birth and death
carrying all that lives
into the cradle of earth,
embracing our bones
cupped in the hands of time
like fruit in autumn sun
or wolf cubs in dark dens, asleep
high on a mountain's side.
Mother mountain
river mother
arc of her breast caressed by sky
whose winds are lover's hands,
a mountain is she.

Copyright © 1995 Erynn Rowan Laurie
All Rights Reserved
May be reposted as long as the above attribution and copyright notice are retained