Election Blessingway

 

Election Blessingway

(after the Navajo)

 

In this time of mortal danger,

full of kindness may we walk.

With eyes open to justice may we walk.

With all fellow beings beside us may we walk,

and tell the constellations with our hands,

with open, sharing hands.

Mindful, may we make our way again.

Mindful, may we make our way

on long quizzical paths. Paths looping back

like question marks upon themselves. 

Making our way back, mindful, to the start,

and asking if we started wrong, or where

the wrong turn came. Where stumbling started

and the fear of being too far lost 

to venture hope again of being found.

On a road of wonder may we walk.

On a road of wonder, alive to every turning, may we walk.

With spirits dancing, like the sun on water, 

joyful, may we walk.

Beside a quiet bay of sea turtles,

barefoot and humbled by their wisdom, may we walk.

May we walk high above the sea

and in it, to our knees.

May they acknowledge us, the sea turtles,

and swim around us easily and unafraid.

May it be lucid and green there, where 

they have come again, where we can be.

In the tracks of deer dancers

with pine bough antlers may we learn to dance.

May there be sunlight on the farthest hills, 

and when night comes the light of stars 

in ancient canyons on old snow.

May Orpheus too come, bringing music,

and all the gods I learned to call by name once 

in a distant starwashed place.

In this time of terrible wrong-going,

may we find our way again.

May every step be surer than the last.

May we, stepping, learn again to sing, 

to find the harmonies that will carry us on,

and through—to owls, comets, what we are

at best, with lovingkindness and infinite compassion

all around.  Above, below, within.

May it finish in beauty.

May it finish in beauty.

May it finish in beauty.

images and words:  Christie Cochrell