Singing to the Late Spring Moon

I have very vivid recollections of my first mockingbird song

here in California

midnight, later in the spring:

my life had fallen apart

I had just returned from being flown to the Big Apple by the man I loved

where he sternly told me that the relationship had to change its boundaries (leave him open for more)

or end.

I relocated to California from New York a few weeks before this fateful visit

and all my dreams of togetherness fell apart

but

there was something about this state and the smell of the trees around my shitty apartment, something about the sound of the myriad bird songs

coming from one throat that comforted me

and worldlessly encouraged me to adapt

and accept that change had come

to my happy ending.

Holding the babe on my lap and watching his sideways smiles

made me think of putting a mockingbird amongst poppies singing up the late spring moon

on a raw-edged elk skin bag:

the embodiment of a natural mitzvah

that I get to send out into the world

a reminder that there are even happier endings to be had should your initial ideal come crashing down.

I look forward to posting updates on the making of this piece in the coming days and weeks!

Also on the path to completion:

two belt buckles -

one ladybug

one old-school tooling pattern orchid

.

xo,

S