Humwichawa*
Let me follow
the moonlight across the rocks
along the wind-marks of the sand
Follow the sweet scent of hope
in the cold night air
of the high desert
Follow the gliding wings
of the yucca moth
searching for the perfect womb
to lay her eggs
Lead me
O moth
to your nursery
in the desert
Lead me
O moth
to the tree called
humwichawa
Can you hear the call
of the desert
to follow the yucca moth
to the Joshua Tree?
Humwichawa
giver of sparse shade
mother of moth
sign of water in the desert
Pamela Olson, 2/20/08
*Humwichawa is the Native American Cahuilla tribe’s word for the Joshua tree.
Thanks to Bolts of Silk for the publication of this poem.
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