i am sassafrass/ a weaver’s daughter/ from charleston/ i’m a woman makin cloth like all good women do/ the moon’s daughter made cloth/ the gold array of the sun/ the moon’s daughter sat all night/ spinnin/ i have inherited fingers that change fleece to tender garments/ i am the maker of warmth & emblems of good spirit/ mama/ didn’t ya show me how/ to warp a loom/ to pattern stars into cotton homespun/ mama/ didn’t ya name me for yr favorite natural dye/ sassafrass/ so strong & even/ go good with deep fertile greens/ & make tea to temper chilly evenings/ i’m a weaver with my sistahs from any earth & fields/ we always make cloth/ love our children/ honor our men/ who protect us from our enemies/ we prepare altars & anoint candles to offer our devotion to our guardians/ we proffer hope/ & food to eat/ clothes to wear/ wombs to fill.