Teya Dusseldorp — Our first morning in Kalymnos

Our first morning in Kalymnos, a gentle rain falling feels like healing. The clanging bells make my heart swell with gratitude. I hold in my hands Charmian Clift’s love letter to women of the past, and the future. We have gathered here, Australian women in different forms but with similar yearnings. Wise women of words tender with hurts and dreams.

Charmian has offered a guiding light, to where we are not sure. But taking her lead, we have our ‘slice of time’. She’s helping us to be brave. Like a pride of lions or a platypus patrol. We reach our hands back to each other as we move through the rocks and wildflowers rich with nectar and stories. The mermaid has done her work. In the dark and intimate crypt of Saint Savvas I light a candle to Charmian, to thank her for her song.