Old  Oraibi

Old Oraibi has no stone

To mark the spot where the land grew small,

When soldiers tore at sons and daughters

And families bowed and broken watched--

Ahi-yo, Ahi-yo

Old Oraibi has no stone

To build the school of grief where children

Learn the hunger they shall need

To please the soldiers of the dusty flag--

Ahi-yo, Ahi-yo

Old Oraibi has no stone 

For the town crier to rest where he cries,

His messages found beneath pottery shards

Where dark tales stain the dust--

Ahi-yo.

And so the stranger kicks the dog,

And so he cripples the faithful horse,

And so he crushes the Savior-God

That he has brought to the People of Peace.

Old Oraibi has no stone

To seal the shrines, the fourteen kivas,

Split and charred like Old Oraibi,

Hating themselves, like Old Oraibi--

Ahi-yo, Ahi-yo.

© Copyright 2019 by Cary Kamarat . 

All rights reserved.

From: 

AMERICAN LEGENDS, by Cary Kamarat, available at Amazon.com :

https://www.amazon.com/American-Legends-Cary-Kamarat/dp/1628062207/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=american+legends+cary+kamarat&qid=1574113145&s=books&sr=1-1

 Share your travel experiences and impressions by clicking on the word

‘comment’ below.  Alternatively, send your comments directly to the

 author at dinosasha@juno.com. 

AFTER THE FLOOD

(an American Legend)

Pools of life, as the waters subside

Carry cells of a reborn kind—

A sprout arises beyond its nature

Bearing Man, the lonely savior—

Lovely and pale, the willow tree

Bends to search for the unseen—

Where willow bows to kiss the earth

Woman ascends, of shimmering birth—

Garden creatures tend to their needs,

Dance of the butterfly, honey of bees—

Song of the bird, milk of the beast,

Only the dog must wait till they sleep:

With little to offer, he lays at their side

His own gift of love for humankind.

© Copyright 2018 by Cary Kamarat . All rights reserved.

From AMERICAN LEGENDS, by Cary Kamarat, to be published in 2019.

Please share your travel experiences and impressions by clicking on the word ‘comments’ below.  Alternatively, send your comments to the author directly at dinosasha@juno.com.