catapult magazine

Cherohala Sky Mother

by Julie Sumner

Author’s note: The Cherohala is a national parkway between western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee that covers the Unicoi mountains.  Prior to being a parkway, it belonged to the native Cherokee, along with the Joyce Kilmer National Forest, which adjoins the parkway.

My husband’s grandmother
            Weeps and cannot speak
            About the Trail of Tears.

Sky Mother appeared at 5000 feet —
            Blessing and grieving as she walked
            Across the cloud-drenched edge of the Cherohala.

“This land used to be ours…”

“It’s so beautiful, so beautiful…”
            Out loud-
“I’m so sorry, so sorry, forgive me, forgive us…”
            In my heart.

“Youins from Tennessee?
  Won’t you come visit my church?
            Service is tomorrow night —
            Love to have you there,
            Love to have you there.”

True grace.

We will meet Sky Mother again —
            In the clouds again.

Next time:
All blessing, no grieving.