Warrior Woman Calls

come with me; now
this day, war is on
battles to be fought
and won

No, I say, fear seizes me
my kind n’ gentle soul
would never dare, to
step out there, where
bloodied bodies lay

Faces shown to me
little, innocent, child
size, large grown-up
tears upon their cheeks
lonely salted rivers
call to me

Bodies attach to crying
faces, rigid, tortured
racked with pain, others
limp, vacant, abandoned
sting of ripping flesh
calls to me

Silent screams, muted
voices speak to me
withering, wailing pleading
for justice, vindication
silent boiling caldron
calls to me

Large hairy hands
sneers, panting, pubic
hairs surrounding big
freshen worms, naked
chests, fill my soul
caldron overflows

Men hang from every
tree, blood splashes
like rain, thunder
pounds, lions roar
then clamp down ripping
flesh, eating worms

Eyes blaze fire
burns, lions face
hands and heart of
steel I am here
I have merged
become Warrior Woman

-Betsy-
November 1989