The Spirit of Phinney Ridge

Children
you are alien
upon me,
travelers pausing,
eating the flesh
of other lands,
drinking the water
of other streams,
wearing the skin
of other herds,
ignorant
of the names
of my beasts
and leaves.
You circle
without end
forgetting
a home
you’ve never
known.
What you imagine
among the stars
dwells within
this space.
Align to me,
orient
to the shadows
cast upon me.
Dissolve
your fences.
Root down
in my soil,
my sorrow,
my dark soul.
Feed from me,
sleep in me,
love on me,
surrender
your dead
to me.
Nourish me
with tears
and blood,
lay words
like stones
upon my back.
Be chilled
by my grief,
warmed
by my laughter.
There is no I
apart
from you.
Join your eye
to mine.

– A. Rella