Homelife

native Americans sleep in tents

some fashion houses in trees,
Inuit's remain in igloos when cold
descends upon their tribal lands,
others live trailers or log cabins,
using nature for their business,
leaves, straw grasses, pine needles,
we admire our modern conveniences
as they keep us inside, no longer
disturbed by eagles and hawks as
they fly by unexpectedly...  homes
made into the sides of mountains
or dug out deep into the earth, we
find space wherever we can and
always hope for the best...  stars
in the sky point the way home or
to hunting lands both north and
south as only water in the other
directions we have been told by
the ancient spirits...  coverings
made from animals keep us as
warm as we can be and fish from
the rivers and streams fill out
empty bellies...  we are desperate
to see the sun and blue sky again
cleansing our bodies dancing in
the summer rains - we live day to
day in our little worlds, caring
not for outsiders who pass by on
their way elsewhere, and with our
weapons, we let them know to 
keep on moving away from here.

February 13, 2024