The Origins of the Owners of Land

— for the members of Oshugó Àgàn At first a child rolled off a reed mat a height of no consequence Later the bald ageless vulture circles the hill the man climbs When the owners of the land arrived they brought beaded bag in their search Bag beaded big enough to house the echoes that gave birth to sketches of words on dust Bag deep enough to circle obstacles that would sprout upon birth They reached a clean house chalked walls of peace a person of peace They planted a pair of brass scepters illumined male / female short legs kneeling long torso crisscrossed by arms hands clenching some secret or just its thumbs They saw three to be balanced— Earth & us Impermanence & love water & its gourd as gorge fish & whirling water How they all seemed dependent on each other There is balance where there are three . . .