Spirit Child

The spirit child has light skin
and long black hair.
It waits in the shade
of the bloodwood tree,
feeding on gum,    drinking
dew from the leaves.
It sleeps under loosened bark.
It lives in the hiding places
of secret/sacred objects,
and waits.   It looks after itself.
It watches from rockholes -
a little pebble:   no head,
no arms, no legs.
It keeps silent,   avoiding strangers.
It holds its breath.
It searches to be born,
to find the woman
with the kind face & large breasts -
to find nakedness.
The child chooses
its own mother.

(from Singing the Snake)

© Billy Marshall Stoneking