"Ojo Caliente" by Bob Atkinson

"Ojo Caliente"

(c)2010 Bob Atkinson

in the land of peaceful people

in the middle of the sun 

fate hid a sweetheart's enclave

where arrows of love come from

these arrows come softly

not to kill, or hurt with pain

they give love growth and power

opening life like it was a flower

lovers need not know each other

they will meet some normal way

to fill their dreams of partnership

for the rest of their natural days

sitting in a hot spring pool

feeling spirits still here 
a somber mood descends on you

of a people proud that lost their lives

in pursuit of a life that passed them by

down among enemy men
who swept in from all sides

innocents were butchered by Terrazas 
in Three Castles at twilight



peoples' spirits are still around

their homeland of trees they loved
mineral pools arranged around
a pile of stones on the ground

shhhh..... listen closely
 for their sounds
we are not without guides

the warrior maiden wasn't there

had she been she would have saved

her people from their early graves

and her brother of eternal shame

shame it's not to be caught in

a change of culture one didn't cause

never in his wildest dreams

did he see this loss of pools serene

this was their land

they knew the names

each rock saw them pass

grow up from babes

the trees the cliffs

the open plains

belong to those

born of this place

they said she died in Alabam'

perhaps she did, I wasn't there

but, spirits are not so quick to die

when they are of the worldly wise

this spirit gave to her people strong

all those gifts that can't be bought

she cooked and cleaned
did women's work

when on a raid, took to the front

gathered horses from Mexican towns

down in Sonora raiding that land

killed those who tried 
to harm her friends

brought gifts home 
to those of her band

saw soldiers far beyond the sight

of others who were trained to fight

looked four ways, palms outstretched

warm tingly hands when danger neared

and now she stays within our hearts

the woman of beauty is now a part

of each of us who now roam

the hills she called

her warm springs home