“Fragment” from Woven Stone by Simon J. Ortiz

November 17, 2010 at 11:46 pm (creative writing, culture, education, environment, ethics, exploring interconnectedness, history, Indigenous People, Native Americans, nature, poetry, politics, random, religion, Uncategorized, Writing)
Tags: books, creative writing, culture, education, Fragment, heritage, history, life, Native American, ortiz, people, poem, poetry, random, Simon, Woven Stone, Writing

 November is Native American Heritage Month.  Here is one poem from Woven Stone which is a wonderful compilation of three volumes of poetry by Simon J. Ortiz.  

                            Fragment

 

On my way to city court

to be judged again,

I pick up a small stone.

 

The month is March,

it will be Easter soon.

I put the stone in my pocket;

it is that I feel the need

for deliverance and maybe

if I do this.

 

My hands are sweaty;

my fervent vain wish

is that I had never been in jail

that first time.

 

I put the stone in my other had

and caress it with my fingertips.

I find it is moist

and realize it is a fragment

of the earth center

and I know  that is

my redemption.

@Simon j. Ortiz

 

                                                                                            

Clicking on the photograph will take you to Poetics and Politics. Clicking on the book cover leads to U of Arizona Press’ site and an excerpt from Woven Stone.

Peace