From War Cry on a Prayer Feather, 1979, by Nancy Wood
To live one must make a living.
In making a living we lose our faces
And see instead the images
Of what we have become.
If only
If only
Life did not become a business.
Limited-edition sets of Nancy’s poetry books
The Nancy Wood Literary Trust is selling eight sets from her original publisher boxes of Hollering Sun, Many Winters, Spirit Walker, Dancing Moons, Shaman’s Circle, and Sacred Fire. These are the last books we have. The sales will help fund the publication of a book of Nancy’s selected poetry. Includes letter of provenance from the trust. If interested please email Info@NancyWood.com.
What remains beyond us to know – August 2021
From War Cry on a Prayer Feather, 1979, by Nancy Wood
What remains beyond us to know
Is sought as meaning and reason
And the obsession to open the universe
Is excused as understanding nature.
In order to use life well
We must surrender our importance
And open ourselves to nature
To discover the universe there.
Spirit Brothers – July 2021
From Dancing Moons, 1995, by Nancy Wood
Spirit Brothers
We are all one.
The human and the hummingbird
The wild horse and the weasel
The house cat and the red-tailed hawk
The buffalo and the dog
The coyote and the cottontail.
The human spirit and the animal spirit
Grow from a common root
of understanding.
Human dreams and animal dreams
Share the limitless horizon
of our precious mother earth.
The human spirit and the animal spirit
Join where the circle of the sky
meets the circle of the earth.
In this sacred space lies the meaning of the universe.
The meaning of the universe is nothing more
than the appearance of dew on a leaf or
the dance of light on water, even
the conversation between two dogs or
the way a hummingbird flies.
Three Sisters – June 2021
from Spirit Walker, 1993, by Nancy Wood
Three Sisters
We are the Three Sisters of Fire and Earth and Water.
Without us, nothing lives or grows.
We are the Three Daughters of Sun and Moon and Stars.
Without us, no path exists through the universe.
We are the Three Wives of Birds and Trees and Animals.
Without us, there would be no wings or roots or bones.
We are the Three Mothers of Clouds and Wind and Rain.
Without us, our children would go hungry.
We are the Three Friends of Beauty.
Without us, flowers would look like stones.
We are the Three Grandmothers of Wisdom.
Without us, men would only speak of war.
We are the Three Aunts of Endurance.
Without us, what would survive?