HERDING
Today I go with my mother.
I go with her to drive the sheep
for I must learn to tend
the flock.
It is my work.
The way is long.
The sand is hot.
The arroyos are deep.
It takes many steps
to keep up with my mother.
It takes many steps
to keep up with the sheep.
My mother waits for me.
My mother takes my hand.
She calls me
Little Herder of the Sheep.
And so we walk
across the sand.
We walk
till the day is done,
till the sun goes
and the stars
are almost ready
to come.
We walk across the sand.
We walk to the water hole
when day is at the middle.
We walk to the night corral
when day is at the close,
the sheep,
my mother
and my mother's Little Herder.
Before the hogan fire,
when night has come,
my father sings,
my mother whispers,
"Come sit beside me
Little Herder."
I like that name.
From now till always
I want to be
my mother's Little Herder.