As she was told, and she was told, Great-Great-Great-
Grandmother said these words when her daughter grew
a bread loaf belly, The world is dangerous, teach her
to look away, cover her ears, and above all things, speaking is forbidden.
A goodgirl Great-Great-Grandmother obeyed.
Her daughter Great-Grandmother was born with a blank space
where the eyes should be. Worried, she knew to whisper the words
when she grew her own bread belly. The world is dangerous, teach
her to look away, cover her ears, and above all things: Speaking is forbidden.
Great-Grandmother bore a beautiful baby girl with a blank space where the eyes
and ears should be, raised her well, spoke the words so Grandmother
knew her whole life what to do. All the women were growing scared, thinking
they were leaking some truth and being punished, so when Grandmother grew
her loaf belly, she pleaded with her lord, she said Lord, I know the world
is dangerous, please teach her to look away, cover her ears, and above all else:
Keep her from speaking so that she can live in peace. Grandmother birthed
a bright baby girl with a blank space where the eyes, ears and mouth should be.
She thought this must be best and felt blessed for her answered prayer. One day
my mother grew her own bread loaf belly. With ancestors to guide her, she repeated
the prayer now a part of her DNA. Pleading for her child to be windy, silent, sightless.
My mother gave birth to me. I was like her, but she gave me to the divine out of
despair. The divine said you’ll be needing these and these and this. I had to learn how
to use them, my eyes too bright, my ears so sensitive, my mouth so dry.