To the Huichol Nation

we are corn, health
                          and prosperity
we are the salamander
god of rain we are
good sorcerers
                          butterflies
protectors of the peyote
eye of gods
                          mothers of children
candles offerings
to all our deities:
sun energy moon
love and fertility
eclipse and union
                          male and female
peyote god of the spirit
wounded deer and eagle
sent from on high:
wolf knowledge wisdom
serpent spirit of the oceans
origin of all life
two-headed eagle poised
between sky and earth

No Title

a dawn of mud and rain
came sudden with
another earthquake

the people spoke words
enfleshing their histories
of swords trees
rocks and waters

ancient Antonio speaks chewing
his words to give them
form and meaning
"listen, the water
and darkness answer…

"our ancestors faced
the stranger who came to destroy…

"he came to force
another world on us
another word and belief
other gods and Justice...

"his god was gold—
                            it spoke:
"I am the ultimate power"

at times we must fight
as if we were sword
facing the beast
stone facing time

"our ancestors",
Antonio repeats,
"resisted like water
against the strongest streams...

"as we resisted
our invaders...

"finally they left
we remained
like the water of the torrents
flowing out to the sea"