The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children 5)

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.”

Ayla looked up and noticed Zelandoni watching her. She glanced at the other people around her and when she looked back, Zelandoni’s gaze had shifted.

“The Mother remembered Her own loneliness,

The love of Her friend and his hovering caress.

With the last spark remaining, Her labor began,

To share life with Woman, She created First Man.”

“Again She was giving. One more was living.”

“To Woman and Man the Mother gave birth,

And then for their home, She gave them the Earth,

The water, the land, and all Her creation,

To use them with care was their obligation.”

“It was their home to use. But not to abuse.”

“For the Children of Earth the Mother provided,

The Gifts to survive, and then She decided,

To give them a Gift of Pleasure and sh

aring,

That honors the Mother with the joy of their pairing.”

“The Gifts are well-earned. When honor’s returned.”

“The Mother was pleased with the pair She created,

She taught them to love and to care when they mated.

She made them desire to join with each other,

the Gift of their Pleasures came from the Mother.”