Cocoon

For the April 'poem a day' challenge this year, I'm writing haibun to explore and reflect on my new Tarot deck, Forests of Enchantment. 

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The Empress card is the Mother – earth mother or Mother Earth, take your pick. Both are true.

In the Enchanted Forest she is Green Mother, dressed in leaves, tattooed with flowers, flowing-haired. 

I like to see the attentive rabbit at her feet – my Chinese astrology sign.

I never saw myself as very maternal. I didn’t conform to stereotype. Only in my old age I laugh to realise how much Mother I really am. I drew into my life not only my birth children but also foster-children, stepchildren, various younger women who want to adopt me into that role, students to whom I become mentor…. Then there are all the pets. Wonderful dogs, beautiful cats. 

I find I have a need to be taking care of a loved one. In recent years they have been cats. My sense of responsibility towards them is conscientious and fierce. Also very tender. 

I have a deep need to give love.

autumn night –

my cat snuggles close 

purring