She brings me a gift
of a ravens feather,
this pale child of my heart.
Her burdens are heavier
than a blackbirds cries
but she has the strength
of wings and flight.
This beloved child of my heart,
she brings me the gift
of a ravens feather.

*** For my beautiful niece, Kathleen Rose.

I was laughing this morning – Are we the only family that brings each other gifts of nests, feathers, stones, shells, bones – even cow teeth? There may be something odd with us – but we love all the beautiful bits of nature that we find.