Unnamed

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(a poem)

The unnamed women
have names 
     their mothers called them;
have names 
     their children know; 
have names 
     that children from other mothers 
     cherish in their hearts
Names 
     which are spoken 
     in languages most will never learn. 
The unnamed women 
have names 
They shape people. 
They birth nations. 
They are architects of history. 
They are the first educators 
     of the geniuses among us. 
They are 
     priestess,
     prophetess,
     minister,
     shaman,
     holy women. 
The unnamed women
have names. 
When we speak of history;
when we think of the brilliant minds 
     in our midst;
when we explore new worlds
let us 
gently 
reverently 
remember 
celebrate 
the names 
of the unnamed women
who have nursed 
and nurtured it all;
who have held 
all mystery 
and discovery 
against their breasts. 
The unnamed women
have names. 

-- bss2017

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