Pioneers

These still

deep places

PIONEERS

There is no one who seeks
These still deep places
Willingly, who is
Not fully welcome,
Who is not worthy
Of this place,
Whose gifts and presence
Are less—in any way—
Than those of us
Who first arrived—
Who made the maps
We use.
Those who are here
For the first time
Today,
They too are pioneers,
They too are founders
And explorers.
They too lead us
Across new lands.

Judy Brown,
May 7, 2017