Homeland

I feel so sad Around here In the Fall

The Sunlight drifts into my home

From the south side of the earth

My prayers are more quiet and reflect: Earth People Animals

Things that matter In life This life!

I feel so sad Around here In the Fall

The strong currents of the wind Have changed their position

The breeze appear to be: Cool Strong Aggressive

My mother is preparing for the Winter Months

Three hours from now She is preparing . . . Humming quietly.

I feel so sad Around here In the Fall

The memories become more pronounced Around this time of year

My mother was born In the Colorado Mountains In the middle of the winter

A bear came In the night The night of my mother's birth This bear played And

played In the back of the old tent The tent where my mother was born And

played one last time And then it let out a loud cry before it went back down the

side of the cold cold mountain My mother was born in this way Her celebration

continues today.

It is now:

The presence of my grandmother Is pronounced today A breeze niters gently into

my home The cries of birds The distant barking of dogs The galloping of strong

horses Horses of many colors They snort and dance wildly all this reminds me

of home Back home.

I feel so sad Around here In the Fall

DELLA FRANK has been writing for sixteen years. She is currently the Principal of Naschitti Elementary School on the Navajo Reservation. She has three children and eight grandchildren.

Copyright University of Nebraska Press 2002
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