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Archive Issue |
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Tribal Fires Journal |
The Strength of Women My Grandmother was a woman of strength. She is part of the fire within my spirit. One of the memories I have of her strength is when my youngest sister, Suzie Q, died from being struck by a car. I didn't see the strength until 20 plus years later, when I recalled my sister's death, as I do regularly in my life. The accident seeps through my memory, leaking into my thoughts, the image of her body being tumbled over and over on the highway. As years passed by, my mind measuring the healing of my spirit and allowing more details to bear witness of this life ordeal. For many years, I couldn't think of how other family members were affected, how they responded to losing Suzie. Then one day as I was driving home from work, an hour long drive, that gives too much time for memories to talk to me. A flash of Grandma bent over on the highway with a bucket of hot sudsy water. I see her with the white cotton cloth in her deep brown hands. She dunks the cloth into the water and sops it onto the blood stain on the road and the blood mingles with the soapy water, pink bubbles emerge and run off the highway. I can see Grandma crying as she is bent over and scrubbing Suzie's blood off the road. Tears and sobs emerge from her body and still she continues to wash the road, until the blood stains are almost gone. At the time, I felt I was standing alone on the road with my grandma and then I see her motion for someone to help her. Someone who has the strength of her own, someone who has become too fragile from the blow of losing a child, my mother. Yet, Grandma tells my mother to come and help her. I watch as the old woman takes the younger woman to her side and helps her wash her daughter's blood from the road. Together they rinsed the last of her blood, our blood back into the earth. Years gave way to decades. During Grandma's life, she guided me with her teachings of plants, medicines, and tracking my path in the woods. She was demanding and wouldn't give into my tantrums and stubbornness, neither would my mother. My Grandmother was their to help the other women in our family when the lost of more children came to our home. I think of Grandma and I am in awe of her strength she shown in her life. I can see her smile, when we would walk into her house. A quiet, gentle woman, who taught her daughters how to stand up to life's hardships with courage and strength. Today, my Grandmother and Mother have passed on and I remain on my life path and with the memories of three women, who I call to when I am wounded and in need of healing and with the fire of three women, my Grandmother, my Mother and my sister, Suzie Q., I will look back with fine memories of their true spirits. I have been healed. *** Written by Cherylin Z. Martin-Wade |
St. Thomas I accept A few months before the convocation at St. Thomas U. I am offered a Doctorate of Letters. Graciously I accept. When the time comes to travel to Federicton, my family offers to take me by car, we're tried. The reserved room at the hotel, a welcome sight. When I am tired my illness is more. THe next day my daughter helps me to dress. On time, we arrive at the University. My footing wobbly, the tremor bad. Slowly we make our way to the podium. I sit with two others, one in Newspaper and a Professor. Amazing t hought, these two great men. With so much learning, they pass to others. I am sitting there uncomfortable, I rise to hide my trembling behind a chair, the discomfort overcoming protocol. I hear my name. I make my way to my chair, I hear my name again. This time I stand with the help of my daughter. As they place the mantle on my shoulder the graduates lead the standing ovation. The humility and awe brings more sweat and tears. I lift the white feather as high as I could. *** Written by Rita Joe
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Archives Tribal Fires Journal Volume 1 Issue 1 Volume 1 Issue 2 Volume 1 Issue 3 Volume 1 Issue 4
Tribal Fires Journal Tribal Fires Journal Volume 3 Issue 2- Missing Volume 3 Issue 3- Missing Volume 3 Issue 4- Missing Tribal Fires Journal Volume 4 Issue 2 Volume 4 Issue 3 - Missing Volume 4 Issue 4 Tribal Fires Journal Volume 5 Issue 3 Volume 5 Issue 4 Tribal Fires Journal Tribal Fires Journal |
Tribal Fires Journal is currently open for submission of poetry, essay's and short stories for the coming Fall issue.
Please send copies of writings to:
Tribal Fires Journal | 4807 Onigum Marina Drive NW | Walker, MN 56484
Also include your tribal affiliation, and writer's profile.
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Updated: November 22, 2005
