Canyon De Chelly
Maria Famà
Canyon De Chelly
A woman prays at Canyon De Chelly
the sun rises over
Spider Grandmother’s sandstone spire
distant starshine
warm first light
sacred rocks, juniper trees, sage brush
the wind is a presence
one eagle flies overhead
spirit guides, come
animal mentors, come
a woman prays at Canyon De Chelly
seashells of past ocean
dry sands of the wash
change and stay
ancient Anasazi cliff dwellings
present Navajo hogans
change and stay
hawk and owl
sheep and herders
cornfield and stream
trees and scrub
prairie dog and mouse
change and stay
sing the power of the pulse
the holiness of sunshine on stone
a woman prays at Canyon De Chelly
changes changes
and stays.