Dream Basket (Poetry)

Contained in a long curve of claws —
dreams gathered in
the woman cradled by a bear’s
protective skin
that wraps her, folds her to himself
young spirit curled
and nurtured while the beast keeps guard
fends off the world.

The Mystic weaves an image bound
to folklore’s dream
the brown-furred night a basket lined
its god half-seen
where ghost-birds from some shadowed realm
stare through and keep
their ancient and unblinking eyes
on those asleep.