Mothers, Ancient and New

Mothers, Ancient and New

Ancient mothers, ancestors of all our kind,
perturbed their counterparts by having a mind
of their own and, having noticed the timing
of moon and menstr'al cycles and still climbing
the evolutionary ladder, said no
at times to advances and overtures, so
unlike predecessors who just had instinct
to guide reproduction and are now extinct.

These ancient mothers of ours may have started
something revolutionary which parted
ways with apes and other creatures whose females
may choose their mates, whether they’re peacocks or whales,
based on certain traits, but they rarely refuse
and certainly not based on forethought and views
of minimizing risk to self and to child.
These women were the ones who made us less wild.

The power of time was taught to the men who,
though fearsome, were also fearful; now they knew
that they were mortal and death would come--although
new religions were made so that angst could go--
as they hunted animals whose iron, red
and strong, was so needed by women who bled.
These women who now knew about progeny
provided a kind of immortality.

This newfound preservation through family
drove men to form cultures of patriarchy
whose purpose was to control women’s choices
and led to the stifling of women’s voices.
The insight which came with our evolution
and species crisis led to persecution.
Yet women’s wisdom has not been diminished.
The influence of women is not finished.

We more recent mothers have the advantage
of a longer view and all must have courage
to continue the work of generations
that have gone before in multiple nations.
To strive for balance of genders and power,
men and women must now partner together,
acknowledge the past, find equilibrium,
and positively influence what will come.

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(Inspired by Leonard Shlain’s Sex, Time and Power)

8-line stanzas
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11 syllables per line

Copyright © 2008 Dee Clark