Inscriptions

Julie Bloodworth

These are the stones

of our mothers' grandmothers

who lay down

having borne thirteen children, and buried four;

having raised homes,

and lost them to fire and flood;

having ministered to sick,

and been consumed by their diseases;

who lay down,

with raw hands across their breast.

so their children

could plant stones upon them:

Devoted Daughter

Faithful Wife

Loving Mother.

They were wise and noble, we were told.

They were beasts of burden, we cried.

And now, at the stones,

we seek the counsel

of our wise and noble

Sarahs and Kates and Ruths and Rebeccas.

We will not shoulder

your ancient burden,

but tell us please.

What is to be written on our stones?

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