Peruvian Ceremony
Invited to bring wishes and candy,
our class meets at the beach
to prepare for a Despacho ritual
that invokes unity, above and below.
We gather twigs in twilight for a fire.
Lela, our leader, shaman-schooled in Peru,
purifies participants with sage smoke,
imparts prayers to Apu, Mountain Spirit,
and Pachamama, Mother Earth.
"Gods like sweets and nuts," Lela says,
and spreads some on a large paper.
She adds written wishes, sea shells,
gummy bears and Hershey kisses
atop traditional leaves and talismans.
Carefully she folds the offering.
With healing requests for harmony
Lela places the parcel in the flames.
In a silent circle with ocean surf
the only sound, we stare at the fire,
our gifts dispatched to the gods.
Soon only embers glow.
Leaving, we wish for a flashlight.
One shines, held by a policeman:
"No fires allowed in Carpinteria."
Tossing sand on the ashes,
we note our wish: granted.
The Corner
"I tend to look in the corners of things."
Scar Tissue - Charles Wright
In first grade I giggled,
got sent to the corner,
stared at the pale green walls,
discovered five paint drips,
and an Indian girl, a feather in her hair.
We galloped away on her palomino,
played jacks and jumped rope at her tent.
She invited me to come again and again.
So I giggled and giggled and did.
by Jeanie Greensfelder