Homeland

Of dusty roads,

tumbleweeds,

and horny toads. 

Here my heart 

was given birth,

in an adobe

nestled in cottonwood

on the Rio Grande. 

This river I know

runs swiftly,

and leaves intricate

mud-red designs

in a bed of sand.

To the east, 

purple mountains,

sage, piñon, and pine.

To the west,

boulders in formation,

mesas.

The sky all around.

Here my heart was 

enchanted, 

claimed by this Indian land. 

Cactus and lizard. 

Yucca blooming in the sun. 

Blue tail disappearing under brush. 

Roadrunner and rattlesnake-- 

lightning flash of brown bird,

coiled viper on dry cracked earth.

Summer thundershowers

booming to life 

after a parched, sun-baked day.

Here my heart lives 

and awaits 

the cool evening that comes

after brilliant

orange-red golden glow 

passing of the sun.

I know of the red rock 

clay of the Jemez

and of canyons untraversed. 

Here my heart sings. 

Turquoise and coral 

mingle with silver. 

I smell fried bread 

and the sulphur of 

Soda Dam.

Tall white aspen 

dressed in gold 

stand against 

a background brilliant 

blue 

and clear; cloudless.

New Mexico, 

land of mañana. 

Take it slow, amigo. 

Have a tortilla.

Listen to the 

mariachi band.

Come to the cultures.

Dance and 

celebrate 

God’s fullness!

         © Anne Cressin, 2010

The Soda Dam on Jemez Creek near Jemez Springs, NM. ~ Wikimedia Commons; 
photo by snowpeak