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Ancient pilgrimage site–

Twenty dusty miles from  Interstate 550

South of once sacred Shiprock–

North of Gallup

Once settled by Anasazi men

Wearing corn husk sandals on calloused feet,

Skin burned copper red by the sun god.

Long ago they followed the Raven

Across the high desert plateau

Down into the sacred kivas of Pueblo Bonito

Where they told their secrets and stories

To generations yet unborn–

The cliff dwellers of Mesa Verde.

Towering sandstone ridges of crumbling rock

Encircle a ruined condo culture

Now lost to time :

Chaco, Chaco, Chaco–the canyon walls echo–

Another vortex of the earth

Like Stonehenge, like Delphi, like Sedona….

Why so desolate?

No corn, no rain, no reason

Except to believe in the realm of the Raven

Soaring triumphant evermore……

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