PLAYMATES
But look!!
There are butterflies,
small white butterflies
above the flower plants
of purple iris.
I sit among the iris.
I hear the whispering
of white wings flying.
I think they like my velvet blouse.
I think they like my long black hair
because they come to me
and to the purple iris,
those small white butterflies.
A little fat chipmunk
in a brown striped blanket
comes close to me.
He sits on his feet.
He holds his hands out.
He wrinkles his nose and looks at me.
I give him bread.
He holds it in his hands
and with little quick bites
stores it away
in his fat brown cheeks.
Funny little chipmunk
in his brown striped blanket
with storerooms in his face!
Gray squirrels with bushy tails
run up and down the trees.
They chatter to me.
They make me laugh.
I pull my skirts around me
and follow the squirrels.
Now I know where they live.
Now I know where I can find
piñon nuts this autumn.
I feel the warmth
of Sun-Bearer's shield
against my back.
And on my face
I feel cool fingers
of rain-cloud shadows.
With my hands on the warm earth
beside me,
almost,
I can feel things growing.
Why did I think
I was alone?
