The Chuskas—Navajo Land 1998

Ring of rainbow stones surround these sage stone people.

Age and rust amount to the same thing.

The Diné say they’re protected by the Four

Sacred mountains that embrace these

Fruitless soils. To be so close to the land you’re

Enslaved by—they know true religion.

In the sand painting chants and prayer

Meeting smoke inside teepees or hogans

They’re free because they’re not. The

Land, the brush, the dirt and mesas

Say, “you’re home. Don’t ever leave again.”

My bones are made of the same iron/uranium/copper

Faces on these stones. Peabody Co. tears the

Heart out of each mountain from the inside.

They know rape. Cultural make-up. Rape

Is the great metaphor and reality. Tear my

Heart out then. What you sacrifice you

Also give to me. Rust and root in the Chuskas.