They Were Here

They were here when first this land was settled
they rode the wagons, poled the flatboats
hiked the mountain trails
hitched their skirts to wade the rivers
took their turn as lookouts in the night
they were here when trees were felled
they helped to raise the cabin walls
gathered wood and tilled the fields

They labored with the men as equals
through days of hardship and long toil
in forests full of danger
and land brimmed with promise
they helped assure survival
cooking, sewing, caring for the sick
churning, washing, tending all the children
they labored with each birth
of child, animal, and season

And yet their names are not written
in history books or on a marbled wall
they strove and bore their sturdy children
lived lives unknown and unremembered
they were wives of scouts and settlers
men whose lives are oft revered
yet womenfolk who shared the journeys
lay quiet in graves in lonesome places

Sit quiet on some peaceful mountain
as lights begin to gleam in windows
remember the others who built this country
working side by side with their husbands
leaving ghostly traces
of their loving woman’s touch

Remember them

for they were here