You crossed the sea, 
unbidden 
to find me on a cold shore
squinting over needle and thread
sucking sore thumb, trying again

You took my work, 
unpicked
every timid stitch I thought fine 
shook your head, spoke an old language
that smelled of bone and wings

You doffed your dress, 
glyphs
skittering epic ballads in the folds of your linen 
showed me a world where women walked unchallenged,
an old goddess’ name new on my tongue

You covered me, 
naked
taught me slowly to prick the patterns
of life and death into the weave of my own garments,
to move pain and joy as twins pushing against a shrinking womb