• Dedicated to my Great Aunt, Great Grandmother, and Father
    The Path of Life goes on
    With lampposts to guide the way
    Figures standing tall and proud
    A different brightness and color for each one
    To tell its story and give its light to yours

    An ancient one sheds light upon the memories
    Three generations old she stands
    A great grandmother, loved by all
    Glasses with large lenses peers intently into mine
    Wrinkles like the ripples of time upon her face
    Curly white hair like a rabbits little fluffy tail
    Kindness flowed from her like a waterfall
    Washing away all the sadness and pain
    Pushing me in the direction of sympathy and care
    As time went the waterfall slowed and vanished
    May she rest in the peace of the forest
    Never disturbed as her soul floats upon its breeze…

    The lampposts come and go and now another stands before me now
    Two generations passed she has stood
    A woman of old and yet not so old age
    Walking among horses and dogs that delight upon her presence
    Cats sneak peeks at her from behind bales of hay
    Love flows from the very ground she steps upon
    Warm embraces from her to me
    Cleanliness and knowledge fill her home
    So many things to learn from this woman of nature
    A great aunt she may be but,
    Young in her heart forever more
    Adaptable to change but always keeps the past close
    Creations flow from her fingers
    Little dolls of cloth, scarves of itchy string,
    And so much more she makes
    Creation, joy, cleanliness, kindness, and love
    All things we both now hold dear

    Lampposts come and go as I walk on
    Here upon this part is yet another
    One of the many I now hold in my hands
    A fatherly figure as he should be
    For my blood father he is indeed
    One half of the modern world
    One half of the lost world
    Yet so together in harmony
    A man who loves to help one and all
    Any creature big and small
    Technology meets his fingers
    While human eyes watch his lips
    Advice and comfort comes from him
    A man to be admired by all
    A man of words before force
    But not unwilling to use it should the need arise
    A family man who stands for them;
    A mother, two daughters, and a son
    All proud of the head that leads them on

    All three needed so many times
    A hug or kiss to mend the wounds
    But at first no aid was sought before this hurtful time
    For the pain in the heart wrought from betrayal
    Fear of loss clouded my thoughts
    Laughter echoes painfully through the mind of youth
    Exile and banishment to the darker world
    A heart to be hardened by trades of others
    Cruel words mock the blood and skin that fills such small lives
    Neither Mexican nor White but a mix of native, foreign, and home
    A sympathetic hand reaches out only to raise and strike again and again-
    Like a carefully hidden snake of the brink of death-
    Darkness enfolded but compassion sought from leafs bound by knowledge and ink
    Salvation found in a book of foreign origins;
    Translated to the tongue of English
    Steady and home again to the comfort of blood alike, bonded to the heart

    Not only do the lampposts show people
    But a little place held so dear as well…
    A little haven of the past, hidden beneath technology
    ‘Trail Dust Town ’ the sign reads
    Hanging above an old wagon of pioneers
    “Drive on in” it calls so pulled in and settled
    So step out of our technology and walk across the railroad tracks
    And see a restaurant of old, serving cowboy and cowgirl steaks
    “No ties!” a voice calls and with a quick snip they come off
    Sit and eat a wonderful dripping of juice down the lips
    Laughter and voices fill the tie decorated hall
    Then a voice calls “Gun show playing! 7’o’clock!”
    Then up we get and go see a comedy of outlaws and sheriffs
    An old picture shop lines up next to others
    Such as a little saloon for pretend shoot outs,
    A toy shop of jokes, modern yet old toys, and puzzles,
    A waterwheel for searching for the little flecks of gold,
    And so many more for delight and laughter
    All for fun and none for Scrooge of Humbug
    A little good bye but only to return at the next turning of years

    Yet, that is not the only place
    Where the carving of this soul happened
    The Hopi Reservation of red dust and burning rays
    With laughter ringing out across the Mesas
    The Navajo Reservation of larger lands and hidden beauties
    The land of my forefathers and home of my family’s legend
    Another appears, coming closer as we walk backwards
    Washington D.C., a land of the beginning and the end
    A place where eyes saw and learned how people began
    University of Arizona of learning and fun
    A place for Festival of Books, college, and people
    Sedona, Arizona of rock slides and artistic people
    A place where you can slip and slide and show off you artistic side
    And on and on the places go of where the lampposts stand
    All of them dear and near to this little one
    So watch out for them and think
    “What did she see when she came here?”

    I look on ahead and see darkness with none to guide
    I wonder and wonder what it could be
    In my mind I see a kitchen with me at its head
    In my mind I see a restaurant with me at its head
    In my mind I stop and think
    What am I going to do?
    Who will I meet?
    So I take a deep breath and step into the darkness…
    And find the light goes on.

    So the path goes on and I see
    That life is good and I am proud
    For I am past, present, and future
    Of Navajo, Italian, and so many more…