Once in the Desert Primeval
Once in the desert primeval, not the forest, wind blowing,
susurrations of moving sand, life was a struggle.
All day mothers attended babies, campfires, and homey tasks.
Fathers squinted into the wind, ignoring petrified fish bones.
The ever-blue sky was too open, the land was too dry.
Only Eagle and Crow could see most of the game.
All day mothers attended babies, campfires, and homey tasks.
Did Raven watch the two laughing boys attempting to ride a crippled antelope?
All day mothers attended babies, campfires, and homey tasks.
Raven and Coyote sheltered, watching the sunset over the three sacred mountains.
Coyote could hide anywhere, but Raven also succeeded in concealing himself,
something seemingly impossible for a large black bird.
Together Coyote and Raven spent the day
creating puzzles and mischief for the people.
All day mothers attended babies, campfires, and homey tasks.
Fathers returned with game: a large tortoise to roast in the purple fire.
Lalia Wilson, an independent, integral thinker, has resided in East Tennessee with her family for over thirty years, a contrast to her youth in which she lived in six other states, a U.S. territory, and three states in Germany. She has degrees from California, Connecticut, and New York.