The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children 5)

But each form was perfect, each spirit complete,

Each one was a model whose shape could repeat.”

“The Mother was willing. The green earth was filling.”

“All the birds and the fish and the animals born,

Would not leave the Mother, this time, to mourn.

Each kind would live near the place of its birth,

And share the expanse of the Great Mother Earth”

“Close to Her they would stay. They could not run away.”

“They all were Her children, they filled Her with pride.

But they used up the life-force She carried inside.

She had enough left for a last innovation,

A child who’d remember Who made the creation.”

“A child who’d respect. And learn to protect.”

“First Woman was born full-grown and alive,

And given the Gifts she would need to survive.

Life was the First Gift, and like Mother Earth,

She woke to herself knowing life had great worth”

“First Woman defined. The first of her kind”

“Next was the Gift of Perception, of learning,

the desire to know, the Gift of Discerning.

First Woman was given the knowledge within,

That would help her to live, and pass on to her kin.”

“First Woman would know. How to learn, how to grow.”

“Her life-force near gone, the Mother was spent,

To pass on Life’s Spirit had been Her intent.

She caused all of Her children to create life anew,

And Woman was blessed to bring forth life, too.”

“But Woman was lonely. She was the only.”

“The Mother remembered Her own loneliness.

The love of Her friend and his hovering caress.