The afternoon when the desert wind blew
Like the blast from a hot oven,
Strange names echoed out of the dried eddies -
Tohono O'odham and Zuni -
Hohokam and Hopi -
Heads lowered and raised
Between earth and sky,
Between black clouds and dry lightning -
Fissuring the red earth -
Seeds rattling in dry gourds -
Brown calloused feet striking the earth -
Willing the thunder -
A rain mantra
Pegged to the hot breeze,
Lifting itself momentarily, urging rain
While feet struck powdered sand in unison
Repeating names
Tohono O'odham and Zuni
Hohokam and Hopi
Willing the soft splash of the raindrop
On the dry sand.
Then the hot desert wind blew
And the saguaro held its breath.