Susitna Writer’s Voice–Shawoman, Big Mama, and Blue Moon Turtle, by Ellen Thea

thea gig#1

Talkeetna performance poet Ellen Thea

reads her poems Shawoman, Big Mama, and Blue Moon Turtle.

She is accompanied by Dennis Ransy on percussion.

In the fullness of the moon,

in the fullness of her moon,

power whisper

not a word

or hair may catch fire

and burn.

Balance dance

web edges.

Remember.

Unknown secrets long sleeping.

Comb dewstar hair,

glistening.

Illuminate darkness.

Become iridescent flames.

Shawoman, by Ellen Thea

————————————————–

Big Mama, by Ellen Thea

She do shake, rattle and roll.

She sing the blues, the browns, the greens, the reds,

the spectacular oranges and pinks.

She be so pretty.

When Big Mama laugh,

the nectar roll between her legs.

Her womb be gentle like the ocean.

Her passion be wild like the storm.

Her anger be purple like earthquake and volcano.

Her tears taste like rain.

I sit in her lap.

She be my Big Mama.

You sit in her lap.

She be your Big Mama.

She be whole world, Big Mama,

’cause her lap be big enough for us all.

———————————–

The Blue Moon Turtle Grandmother Speaks, by Ellen Thea

Once

 

in a blue moon,

out of the blue,

in truth, an unusual occurrence, yes.

Rarer, still more extraordinary

is the pink moon,

the blossoming lotus buddha moon

of the grandmother turtle,

summoned by the steady drum

of silvery waves, weaving,

laying her eggs,

journey seeds.

Once in a blue moon

the seven sisters’ radiance

sparkles and tones

a new heart temple,

fertility assured,

the quickening has begun.