Laura Kaye Jagles—Poetry

This is Where I Come From

stick of prayer
————basket of yucca strands
squeaks of hope
————branches of evergreen pine

this is where I come from

communion wafer in saliva
————cornmeal sprinkles from fingertips
Indian tea whistles sweet
————morning bird chirps

this is where I come from

black wool manta
————deer skin moccasin
corral necklace beads

this is where I come from
————smoke
————songs         lift joy

————where spirits

————————plan

————————blessings

Laura Kaye Jagles is a tribal member of Tesuque Pueblo, New Mexico and affiliated with the Western Shoshone and Paiute tribes in the Nevada area. She is currently employed by the Pueblo of Pojoaque, teaching the Téwa Language to K-12 Pueblo students in some of Santa Fe’s independent schools. She is currently pursuing a second Master’s with Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School of English.