Steven Young | + Follow Poet |
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Sticks and Stucco

wind wisps dark locks
from her brow
green eyes gaze 
across 
saguaro spiked slopes 
over 
sticks and stucco 
where once was a river 
and corn grew tall
her mama's native blood
her dad's rugged heart
she belongs to this land
pushed her baby
up this mountain
where two centuries ago 
sentinels kept guard 
now come here to see 
sticks and stucco grow
and watch her generation
manage water 
(Meade was full last
the year she was born)
see her nurse her dream
graduation
career launch 
marriage
money
pay too much for 
sticks and stucco
raise above average kids
walk them all
up this mountain
on Thanksgiving
while today 
her baby's stroller
chases grandpa 
down the hill
so full of giggles
tomorrow grandbaby
stands on this peak
on the brink of her 
sticks and stucco
and I pray
grandpa’s here 
too

Copyright © Steven Young | Year Posted 2022

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Sotto Poet Date: 11/27/2022 12:37:00 PM This is a really encouraging post, Steven, and I share your hope that they will all be able to do it once more the following year. I adore the line "sticks and stucco". Login to Reply Steven Young Date: 11/27/2022 7:34:00 PM Thank you. Yeah, dreams aren't made of brick and mortar any more.

Jim Slaughter Date: 11/25/2022 10:29:00 AM This is a very uplifting piece, Steven, and I, too, hope they can all do it again next year. Login to Reply Steven Young Date: 11/26/2022 2:21:00 AM Thanks, Jim. I hope for a lot of years, and to squeeze the juice out of the ones I get.