I was born on the wooden floor
and the heat of the hearth was the heart of the home
my mother told me this land is ours
for we spring out of the earth like the trees and the flowers
we belong

I ate my oats from a wooden bowl
in the light of the sun I grew straight and strong
my father showed me how to bring back the meat
we were kings of abundance, we were quick on our feet
we belong

I made my cabin from the tall pitch pine
the walls were rough but the roof was dry
my roots in space and time
trees and woods my home
there I lay with the one I loved best
a pallet on the floor gave our bodies good rest
with children we were blessed
we made a family

But the fruit will not fall far from the tree
like peas in a pod they grew perfectly
my daughters brought out the mother in me
I was raised to be strong, I was brave, I was free
we belong

Stirred my soup with a wooden spoon
my life passed me by far too soon
the light was fading as they all stood around
ready to bury my body in the ground
so I’d belong

I told them all of my bravest deeds
life lived in the midst of the trees
when I’m gone they’ll cry for me
bury me like a seed
and they’ll dig me a very deep hole
in the loam in the earth in the soil
loaned were my earthly spoils
to the spirit I return

Wooden Floor

Emily Williams