Rebirth

by Áine Hutchinson

Dived into the luminous, into and through it
and it saw through me, and into me, and beyond
Each depth, layer, compost of death to life again
and it chilled, into my bones, my core
iced and chilled frost bright to stillness.

My flesh pared back and down, back and down to the core again.
There I saw the fragile, the delicate, the amazingness
I was stunned into that stillness
And there she was
Crone, Elder, Bone Dreamer, wrapping me
in warmth, the enveloping light and glow of chilled bones
intricate inward travelling through the labyrinth of strength

Lay those bones on earth frozen where surrender calls.
I heard the roar, it wolf bellowed until the ice encrusted fur became home.
Bone belly heart, with shelter in the exposure to the raw elements.
White deep travel of awe, from where there is no return.

No return needed, for there she was. Waiting for me.

IAHIP 2024 - INSIDE OUT 102 - Spring 2024