In the desert men

left their red hand prints

in high caves

We climbed to see them

In the arid map-drawn panhandle

men found shadowed crevices

to scratch out figures

of their prey

then self symbols

some magic to catch them?

We trudge and climb

to find them

Our thirsty days lead us

to dry lands

and hidden places  searching

for the reasons that flicker

in the dark recesses of our minds

whisper welcome

to what we seek

even in the heavy silences

of these humid-breathed

and drowsy afternoons.

 

Carol Hamilton

Carol Hamilton has retired from teaching 2nd grade through graduate school in Connecticut, Indiana, and Oklahoma, from storytelling and volunteer medical translating. She is a former Poet Laureate of Oklahoma and has published 17 books: children’s novels, legends and poetry and has been nominated nine times for a Pushcart Prize. She has won a Southwest Book Award, Oklahoma Book Award, David Ray Poetry Prize, Byline Magazine literary awards in both short story and poetry, Warren Keith Poetry Award, Pegasus Award and a Chiron Review Chapbook Award.

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