Avabelle is the ancient Mother. Her antlers are the tree of life carrying the sun, birds, moon and stars. She comes during winter’s darkest nights, reminding us how to live a beautiful life. She is the proverb “approach boldly the throne of grace.”
Wepinaso
by Louise Bernice Halfe
Two women stare at each other. Grunts, groans, rippling, meowing and cawing, they spin these songs: Of a brook searching. A crane meditating. A frog croaking. A mantis sucking on a fly. A beaver caught in an iron jaw. Thunder shuddered. A pair of lovers parted under a tree. Lightning smiled through one’s heart. Dew rolled into the woman’s basket.