The Dovekeepers

by Alice Hoffman

Perhaps that meant a woman who was well trained in arms would be the superior warrior, her attention never wavering from her task.

Our mother had taught us that when the moon was white, reappearing after its absence, it was showing us that what had been hidden could easily become whole again.

We were no different from the doves above us. We could not speak or cry, but when there was no choice we discovered we could fly. If you want a reason, take this: We yearned for our portion of the sky.

I understood that women had secrets, and that some of these were only to be told to daughters. In this way we were bound together for eternity.