Moon Belly Dancing

Shadows of children dancing beneath my belly

In ethereal moonlight

Full moon shining on my pillow

Making me dream of young days

When my stomach was in rhythm

With the moon and the prowling world of men.

My heart is wistful because the moon no longer moves

My body into fertile response

The cycle is gently winding down

To another pathway of shadowy lane

Where the ghosts of children who might have been

Dance one more time to my heartbeat

Before they must leave and move on

Past this life chance to another.

Some other woman body will hold

Some other female cup will mold and mother

But not me, not mine, not my breast.

We have done this belly dance for so long

These ghosts and I, they, spirits on

The other side, dancing, dancing ‘round

My mother soul, waiting, wanting to be born.

Now they see the slowing and the tender sadness

Now they see me stoop, a little

Mother soul calls out in ancient longing

A rhythm never to be forgotten

A rhyming and a singing always in my heart!

There were more you see

More babies to cuddle and hold.

My belly groans with goodbye.

cailin raine