Birdsong:

My roommates and I were talking in Southern accidents all night, so as I wrote this, it just happened that the voice I was writing with became southern. A character evolved, so keep her and her accent in mind as you continue.

Birdsong:

I’ve never believed in God
Because people that believe in God never believe in me.
They tell me that because I am a woman
~~~~I am meant to get married
~~~~I am meant to be a supporter
~~~~I am meant to follow a man’s leadership
~~~~I am meant to yearn for my husband
~~~~I am meant to have children.

I’ve never believed in God
Because people that believe in God
~~~~always discredit what I say once I tell them:
I tell them what I am meant to be,
~~~~and that maybe other women can be that way too.
Maybe it’s just a coincidence and not their God
~~~~that make them think those things about me
Maybe they just disagree with everything
~~~~and that’s why they always discredit me.

I’ve never believed in God
Because if there was a God he made me to be the way I am.
He would tell me that
~~~~I am meant to be a leader
~~~~I am meant to be independent
~~~~I am meant to yearn for those in need
~~~~I am meant to produce truth.

I’ve never believed in God
Because people that believe in God say he lives through them, and what lives through them is not nice, it lies about me, and it does not speak the truth.

I started believing in God
Because I decided to be what I am
Which I guess was not a woman
Because I never got married
~~~~ And I supported those who were weak
~~~~~~~~ And leaned on those who were strong
~~~~ I led those who needed guidance
~~~~~~~~And followed those who knew better than me
~~~~ I yearned for the fellowship of another
~~~~~~~~ And found it in many a soul
~~~~I loved upon the parentless
~~~~~~~~And took part in raising them

I believe in God
Because a blue heron alighted on a bridge
And she told me God made me to be what I am
And by being that, I had become a real woman
And lo and behold I looked down and

~~~~ He had turned me into a blue heron
~~~~ A blue heron in the night
~~~~ And I flew away with freedom
~~~~ Empowerment in my flight
~~~~And I lived how I was supposed to
~~~~No label to define
~~~~And he told me how to go forth
~~~~And I did what was divined
~~~~And I felt how I was supposed to
~~~~Created as I was meant
~~~~And I lived a life of purpose
~~~~With power in my breath
~~~~And I lived a life of beauty
~~~~Both inside of me and out
~~~~And I knew I was real woman
~~~~Because by birdsong I did shout.

11/6/11

Acknowledgment to Lauren Johnson, who encountered the blue heron on the bridge that has since taught us more of what it means to be a woman and to be proud of that fact.