INSIDE BOTH OF US

...the sheep were like the dead like his eyes on the pearl street mall and he said he brought the rain down from pine ridge why couldn’t he bring it down in arizona why can’t he bring it down inside both of us moving quickly towards the burning bush towards the cracked and bloody desert the weavers bringing the rain down the bums bringing the rain down why can’t I bring the rain down he said hey sister got a dollar sister got a home for me sister we natives gotta stick together just one more dollar will keep me warm all night its ok that I put my hand on your long brown shoulder put your hand on my long brown heart so the sheep will rise again so the water will turn to wine and back to water and bring the rain down inside both of us...

... Ah Samuel with your Jesus eyes how you looked at me that day on the hill by the school with your hands in the air praying in Navajo and Chippewa for more how you asked for my name for my tribe and for my phone number saying sister sister sister how I love your hair sister how I love the black of it sister come a little closer here put this coconut oil in your hair and make it grow so long so long its promise will cover the world twice over how much I’ve learned out here how much I still want to know and someday I’ll call you and tell you when I’ve finished knowing and speak to you of all of my secrets ah Samuel how I saw you weeks later farther down that newly blackened road giving all of your secrets to that lanky white Boulder boy, but you had said on that day on the hill you know the Navajo are a shy people don’t be shy come here and hold me hold me sister so deep inside...