September 23, 2012 Mary’s Mixed Bag Prompt Neighborhood

Taos Mountain

Neighborhood

My neighborhood is at the foot
Of Taos Mountain
Over time it has become
My home
The only home I know

A handful of
Spanish influence
Music and dance
Rice and beans
Spanish spoken
Knives flash

A handful of
Native influence
Chanting and drums
Ponys and sacred celebrations
Dark skin, hair and flashing eyes

A pinch of the Gringos
Loud, fat, disrespectful
Frightened

A fine pot of stew
All mixed together
It’s not always easy
Is it any wonder

September 23, 2012 Mary’s Mixed Bag Prompt Fences http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/

View of Taos Mountain

 

Fences
Where I used to live
I had a wonderful fence
Tall and dark with age
The color of new green
On moss growing near the bottom
That fence probably no longer stands
Has been replaced
By now

It was protection
Privacy
Seclusion
Inside I heard voices
Conversations without faces
Discussions by the neighbors
Much that I loved
Was wrapped within
I wanted to “keep”
To “hold” on…

Now across the mesa
I see no fences only low adobe walls
(Though I know the Indians
Have barbed wire fences
To “keep”
The paleface out
Their horses in
To “keep”
To “hold”)


Landscape seems to go on forever
Without fences
Rolling sage to open sky
No need for fences
Nothing to “keep”
To “hold”

I’m getting good at letting go