Coming with the Quiet

Nancy Taylor Day


The Appointment

She discarded the mask designed to narrow
once worn by a hundred generations.
Shedding tresses like a molting sparrow
during lunar seasons, and birthing traditions.

Once worn by a hundred generations,
adorned with silver, lace, a flower
during lunar seasons, and birthing traditions,
curls and plaits, her secret power.

Adorned with silver, lace, a flower
tangling hearts and a lover's hand,
curls and plaits, her secret power,
a domesticated siren lured the man.

Tangling hearts and a lover's hand
once knotted tight as a willow basket
a domesticated siren lured the man
diverting the goddess from her task.

Once knotted tight as a willow basket
unloosed to fly in all directions,
diverting the goddess from her task
hair weighed her down, cruel expectations.

Unloosed to fly in all directions
shedding tresses like a molting sparrow,
hair weighed her down, cruel expectations,
she discarded the mask designed to narrow.

Nancy Taylor Day
January 6, 1997


Last updated: 1999-02-14