Trace

In this chilly September twilight

tufts of cottontail are flattened on the street

the body drenched, glistening

The piercing eyes of the crows

draw the chalk line on the scene

The rabbit belongs to the brambles, the earth

The birds are eager for a winter meal

I want to lift this creature away from this runway

A paper bag from my trunk becomes the gurney

to the small tangle of grass by the mailbox

As the evening darkens, I bundle up

don a headlamp, shoulder my shovel

Gleaming eyes meet mine

Growls and screeches

spiral from the boughs of the cedar tree

Please, I whisper to the raccoon family, Be with us

The small hollow

opens to receive

a blanket of breathing soil,

small stones, leaves, cones, twigs

gently tucks in

what remains

Stars, Wind, Cedar, Raccoon, Human

witness together

in the silence

Sheryl J. Shapiro seeks to deepen her presence as a companion on healing journeys, explore and share the depths of her Judaic roots, whispers from nature, and the complex beauty of community.

Sheryl loves integrating spiritual, creative and embodied expression. This journey has included facilitator training programs in Sacred Hebrew Chant with Rabbi Shefa Gold, the Educator’s Leadership and Prayer Project Intensives with the Institute for Jewish Spirituality and in experiential environmental education. Sheryl practices 5 Rhythms Dance/Open Floor movement, chanting, meditation, yoga and qigong.

Her poetry appears online at Ritualwell (2021, 2022, 2023) and Salish Magazine (2022), in print in Peregrine in the upcoming issue (2024), Like a Tree by Water: Poems, Prayers and Rituals, an Anthology by Advot members (2023), We’Moon Datebook (2020, 2022), Dirt? Exhibit and Catalogue, University of Puget Sound (2015) and Poetry on the Buses, Writing Home Collection, King County Metro (2014).

Sheryl lives on Duwamish/Coast Salish land (aka Seattle, WA) and was born and raised on Lenape land (aka Brooklyn, New York).