Cottonwood Crow

at once slow flying rows
of cottonwood crow
fly over the black earth walls 
adornments of golden deathly leaves
swirling flows
deep v of the
irrigation ditch

in the middle
of a wounded sun
the crow rise to their fates
a rooster crows for a sunrise
that never came to be
stucco dogs bark
at the religion
of his quiet sorrel
walking softly
in the soft mud
of last night's
rain

by the roadside
a small woman
at a small table
sells her loaves
of jemez bread
her gingerbread
cochitos

head bowed
her small fingers
roll the red beads
of her worn
rosary

prayerfully whispers with
the passing
of careless
cars

jppestana november 6, 2016