Carol Lee Sanchez
- we go forth and call the earth
into being
father sky and rainmaker
ride summer winds
across blue mountain-
speak sacred names
to cloud people;
watch dancers
offer corn flesh
beneath them.shíwana, shíwana
corn mother thirstsshíwana, shíwana
dust devils rageshíwana, shíwana
hide o sraht's faceshíwana, shíwana
fill grandmother's breastkeep rainbow god
behind blue mountain
til after you come
then he may bless this village,
these fields we planted.
shíwana
rumble
climb down those clouds
to these mesas below you.
shíwana, come to us:shíwana
- grandmother waits
corn mother waits
four-leggeds wait
two-leggeds wait
everything waits
we all await you
come to us.
shíwana
From excerpts from A Mountain Climber's Handbook (selected poems, 1971-1984) by Carol Lee Sanchez, Taurean Horn Press/Out West Limited
© 1985 Carol Lee Sanchez