Christmas in Tucson - Patricia LeBon Herb

[Larry Robinson]

Christmas in Tucson

The Exchange

Her long black and white 
hair running down her
shoulders, like a creek 
with all its mysteries.
Brown eyes, kind
like a bear waking
to a new morning.
She wore a crisp white 
shirt with blue jeans
and pretty light tan 
cowboy boots.
You could not miss
her silver and turquoise 
belt buckle with an 
engraved claw, which 
was an invitation to see 
the fine craftsmanship 
of the Tohono O'odham 
and Navajo Indians, 
inside a small trading post 
store called The Coyote 
on a dusty desolate road
not far outside of town
in the month of December.
Behind a glass counter
displayed were red clay pots 
on small colorful weavings
along with friendship
baskets and hand crafted 
artifacts. I was surprised
to find sweetgrass in the 
region and traded with the 
elder woman green frog 
skin for it. In exchange she 
handed me the braid with 
some coins. She noticed 
my Ojibwa beaded earrings.
There was really nothing 
more to say. She gave
me thoughts for a life time.
I lit the sweetgrass on 
Christmas day.

	- Ziibinkokwe, Turtle Clan (Patricia LeBon Herb)
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