Abuelo: A Grandfather Poem

1.
When We Were Little
Colorado Ranch

The men haying
Mother’s in town
Charlie keeps an eye out
From the cook shack.
After the flames
Climb the curtains
Spread to the roof
The men come
Shouting “Run, run
To the creek
‘case the gas tank goes!”
I hold her close
Bellies half in the creek
Faces in moss and mudbank
me and baby sister
proud to have saved her.
For years, though,
I thought I
started the fire.

2.
Hiking in the Sandias

We call, whistle
from up the ridge.
She doesn’t answer.
I go back to find her.
Furious with her lagging,
following my own snow steps
through the junipers,
I see her sitting
on the granite knoll.
The sun cuts a jagged boundary
of snow and rock.
I step on the snow
know I can’t reach her
Her face, a snowflake,
twinkles once,
melts in the sun.


	1. When We Were Little Colorado Ranch The men haying Mother’s in town Charlie keeps an eye out From the cook shack. After the flames Climb the curtains Spread to the roof The men come Shouting “Run, run To the creek ‘case the gas tank goes!” I hold her close Bellies half in the creek Faces in moss and mudbank me and baby sister proud to have saved her. For years, though, I thought I started the fire. 2. Hiking in the Sandias We call, whistle from up the ridge. She doesn’t answer. I go back to find her. Furious with her lagging, following my own snow steps through the junipers, I see her sitting on the granite knoll. The sun cuts a jagged boundary of snow and rock. I step on the snow know I can’t reach her Her face, a snowflake, twinkles once, melts in the sun.