12 Elul: Homage to Red Cedar and Black Locust

A Rabbit. A Rat. A Guinea Pig.
Crushed. Drowned. Botched Surgery.
Each gathered. Buried.
Welcomed by Cedar and Locust.

Brilliant green drapes the sky
Aerial silk for acrobatic Crow. Stellar Jay.
Sturdy trapeze for leaping Squirrels.
Curvaceous limbs extend a wide berth
for Raccoon Mama. Kits. Child.
Seed cones dangle generously
Banquet for Black-capped Chickadee.
Nuthatch. Bushtit. Sparrow. Robin. Flicker.
Golden Crowned Kinglet.
Songs of feasting, delight and gratitude.

Downy woodpecker descending ascending
furrowed ladder to the heavens.
Long creamy white earrings sway in the breeze
whispering invitation to Hummingbird. Full hearted-presence.
Rest now. Here.

Mere human. Watching. Witnessing.
Humming love to my Friends.

The hard line is drawn.
Death is imminent.

Questioning. Fighting. Raging. 

Weeping.

               Weeping.

                               Weeping.

Sheryl J. Shapiro seeks to deepen her presence as a companion on healing journeys, explore and share the depths of her Judaic roots, whispers from nature, and the complex beauty of Community.

Sheryl loves integrating spiritual, creative and embodied expression. This journey has included facilitator training programs in Sacred Hebrew Chant with Rabbi Shefa Gold, the Educator’s Leadership and Prayer Project Intensives with the Institute for Jewish Spirituality and in experiential environmental education. Sheryl practices 5 Rhythms Dance/Open Floor movement, chanting, meditation, yoga and qigong.

Her poetry appears online at Ritualwell (2021, 2022, 2023) and Salish Magazine (2022), in print in Peregrine (2024), Like a Tree by Water: Poems, Prayers and Rituals, an Anthology by Advot members (2023), We’Moon Datebook (2020, 2022), Dirt? Exhibit and Catalogue, University of Puget Sound (2015) and Poetry on the Buses, Writing Home Collection, King County Metro (2014).

Sheryl lives on Duwamish/Coast Salish land (aka Seattle, WA) and was born and raised on Lenape land (aka Brooklyn, New York).