Recollections of Homestead Uncle

"It was hard
out there in early day
New Mexico

If someone got bad sick
we used Indian herbs
or poultices on them

If they were really strong
they would pull through
and thank God

Looking back
I never met an atheist
homesteader

For sure there were none
When the Reaper came
they bowed to him

and prayed there wouldn't
be a bad sandstorm
until we closed the grave
and piled rocks on it
to keep the sand
from blowing away"

Notes

McDaniel, Wilma. (2001) Borrowed Coats. Hanging Loose Press, Brooklyn, New York.
Courtesy University of California, Merced Library. Copyright owned by the Regents of the University of California.