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THE GRANDMOTHERS' WELCOME by Noor-Malika Chishti


 A few days after the birth of my first grandchild I traveled to Maui to meet Lindy Maria….

When I entered the house my daughter was sitting on the edge of her bed with baby at breast. I was transfixed; I knew it was going to be exciting to meet my granddaughter, but it had not occurred to me how deeply it would move me to see my daughter, as the Mother, for the first time.



“Mother, you were born
so I was born.
You will die
and I will follow you there.
How can I thank you,
all this time
preparing the ground?”

~Peter Levine~
“One Hundred Butteflies”






I stood taking in the beauty of this tableau when I felt, and etherically saw my Mother and my Grandmother, looking over my shoulder, connecting five generations of women. I stood as long as I could before the matriarchs returned behind the veil.

The Grandmothers’ Welcome


Grandmothers peaked over my shoulder
                        when I first glimpsed
                                                my Daughter
                                                      holding her Daughter.
                                                                        What was more profound,
                                                                              seeing my Daughter as the Mother,
                                                                  welcoming my Granddaughter,
                                                            or
                                                the chance to see my Mother and Grandmother
                                                        right behind me, looking over my shoulder,
                                                                                    visible and looking through the Veil?

© Noor-Malika Chishti, January 28, 2010


Noor-Malika Chishti has been a student in the Sufi tradition since 1972; she serves as an authorized representative of Pir Zia Inayat Khan. She began writing poetry when she was in grammar school; it now serves her in processing the lessons life brings. NMC is very involved in interfaith and is a Founding member of the Southern California Committee for the Parliament of World Religions; she now serves on the Advisory Board.  Noor-Malika presented workshops at the 2009 Melbourne Parliament of World Religions on "Listening with a Heart of Mercy, "Listening to the Other: Building a House of Prayer for Christians, Jews and Muslims,” and “Spiritual Intimacy: Taking Interfaith Engagement to the Next Level.” She has two children that were born at home with a midwife and has three grandchildren.

~If you are interested in seeing your poetry appear in this blog, or submitting a poem by a woman that has inspired you, please click here for submission guidelines. I greatly look forward to hearing from you!~

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