koyaaniskatsi*

the dancers no longer hold the dance in their hearts
the old ways are not meant to celebrate the dancers
not meant to be judged like a dog show
these ways come through a dancer
not from
sometimes it is very far
sometimes it is not
but what comes from each is the same
the way two clouds can be the same
and still be different
a gathering was no reason to compete
every dance was the perfect one
and the dancers would be proud
the dance had chosen them to come through

soon, there will be no old ones to remember
no old eyes blinking back tears when the drumming stops
and the vendors fall quiet enough
you can hear the big rigs gearing down
before pulling the long grade out on the interstate

*ko.yaa.nis.katsi (from the Hopi language) , n. 1. crazy life.
2. life in turmoil. 3. life disintegrating. 4. life out of balance.
5. a state of life that calls for another way of living.

24 June, 2K7
ranchoZenrodeo