Humwichawa by Pam Olson

Let me follow
the moonlight across the rocks
along the wind-marks of the sand

Follow the sweet scent of hope
in the cold night air
of the high desert

Follow the gliding wings
of the yucca moth
searching for the perfect womb
to lay her eggs

Lead me
O moth
to your nursery
in the desert

Lead me
O moth
to the tree called
humwichawa

Can you hear the call
of the desert
to follow the yucca moth
to the Joshua Tree?


Humwichawa
giver of sparse shade
mother of moth
sign of water in the desert


*Humwichawa is the Native American Cahuilla tribe's word for the Joshua tree


Pam Olson, USA