1
collapsed star,
two am Navajo darkness and
waves of string-theory echo
blue sage branches,
canyon red arroyo – glitter pollen dust
at Huerfano Mesa
and then
particles in unison
form around Her
breath
in circles in circles –
like the rotation of earth
female prayers swirl
like pools of
white waters, like pools of spring rains
at Chaco Canyon Wash.
2
high desert exhales,
Southwest light and
Woman of Water churns stones in
palms of yucca brown hands,
white rush of river water – glitters turquoise foam
at Animas River and
round droplets
flow around Her
form
in round in round –
like the circle of her belly
femme patterns of meditation reverb
like pools of
purple skies, like hues of summer’s haze
at the blue New Mexico bosque.
3
mountain rivers inhale,
spring scent and
desert soaked femme prayer speaks migration
at her feet,
hum the spirit of river cobbles – glittering green moss
at Hesperus Peak and
branches of moist flora
float
breathe in breathe in –
like the dirt that clings
to roots of cottonwood tree
frequency of
brown history, like the tales of grandmother’s memory
at the foot of Dibé Nitsá in eastern Navajoland.
4
hued atmosphere exhale,
winter cloud life pulls silver and
black constellation
lines overflow pebbles
at left shoulder
geometry
in sparkle in sparkle –
like gentle curve
of morning twilight blue
of rainbow drawing
lines of the dawning horizon
and Her history swirls like pools of
high desert white waters flowing
at the rim
of Emergence of Emergence.
…do you remember four parts of Creation?
Venaya Yazzie grew up on the eastern region of Dinétah in New Mexico. She is Hooghanłani Diné and Hopi. Her poetry is rooted within her matrilineal culture K’e (family), land and identity. Her poem, “Ancestors in us, with us” was published in New Mexico Poetry Anthology 2023. Venaya presented her work at Chaco Cultural Conservancy, Bears Ears Education Center and Bandelier National Monument. Venaya has participated in the International Writing Program Collections. She is alumnus of the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, NM, Fort Lewis College, CO, and University of New Mexico M.A. Education/Indian Education.
