Luci Tapahonso
- Sometimes
I don't even care to see her- her bushy hair
was so nice the night before
those bleary eyes almost closed
smeared mascara shiny with waiting tears- (she can turn them on anytime
you know those tears just wait
like that brimming
it doesn't work on me, I told her once
don't cry to get my sympathy.)
- (she can turn them on anytime
- her lips bloated
from talking and crying
nights of beer beer beer
and crazy conway twitty
-
moaning and groaning
play guitar play
(I hate it,)
-
moaning and groaning
- her face is puffy
reddened from booze
long unknown nights
and who knows what else. - Sometimes I avoid her completely.
- She never learned to dance western
but she thinks so
-
moving clumsily at powwow club
almost falling with each turn
navajo cowboys don't dance
with the likes of her.
- She never learned to dance western
- once as a child
- blood smeared in the soft young wool
I cried then
closing its moist dark eyes
I asked god through gritted teeth- why? why?
it was so good god
warm and happy - I picked it up
crying out loud
- for its helplessness
- its stupidity
not knowing enough
to stay off the road. - and I stopped crying for stupidity long ago
so it's better if she avoids me too.
-
I came across a small mangled lamb
she knows better
she's not helpless - blood smeared in the soft young wool
- her bushy hair
From Seasonal Woman by Luci Tapahonso, Tooth of Time Books.
© 1982 Luci Tapahonso
Books by Luci Tapahonso
- A Breeze Swept Through, Univ. New Mexico Press.
- Sáanii Dahataal: The Women Are Singing, Univ. Arizona Press.
- Blue Horses Rush In, Univ. Arizona Press. (Hardcover)
- Children's Books
- Navajo ABC: A Diné Alphabet Book, Eleanor Schick (Illustrator), Aladdin. (Hardcover)
- Songs of Shiprock Fair, Anthony Chee Emerson (Illustrator), Kiva Pub.
- Sáanii Dahataal: The Women Are Singing, Univ. Arizona Press.
