I WANT TO BE THE KIND OF WOMAN.

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I want to be the kind of woman 
(after Jenni Fagan)

I want to be the kind of woman 
who milks goats each morning 
and drinks straight from the bucket — 
who isn’t afraid to reach into the hive.

I want to be the kind of woman 
who lies down in winter, 
in the brown mulch of leaves 
and sleeps until spring
who loves the generous folds of her body.

I want to be the kind of woman 
who has found her sealskin,
who would cross oceans to make 
her dead father love her once again.

I want to be the kind of woman 
who can name hyssop, nettle, lady’s mantle
and knows all their healing uses.

I want to be the kind of woman 
who goes out under the night sky 
to chant with owls and wolves,
who falls more in love each day 
with her husband, her little dog, her life.

I want to be the kind of woman
who knows she is daughter of sunlight and mud
who knows that her grandmothers 
are still singing her name.

--- Christine Valters Paintner

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