imagine a woman
who creates her own gods
in her own image

imagine a woman
who loves her body just as it is
who knows no shame about her thighs or breasts
but finds pleasure in them
this woman will give pleasure and love to others
because she loves and takes pleasure in herself
imagine a woman so in love and in time with the natural world

that she sees the cycles of the year as the cycle of her menses
as the cycle of her life.
she accepts her moods, as she accepts the weather
sunny stormy hot chilly
she is present to herself

imagine a woman who loves her mind
loves playing with thoughts and words
she is free to share her thoughts and words
with self-respect and dignity

imagine a woman who has learned how to give to others
without losing herself
who knows sweet boundaries that protect her and others
and honors them
insists that others honor them too

imagine a woman who is not afraid to walk out at night
because the place where she lives is safe for everyone
imagine yourself as such a woman
in such a world

Jeanne Rana
April 16, 2018

Madrone goddess ritual at Leslie’s
photo of the San Leandro Bart goddess should go with this poem