Grandmothers Land
around the house stood an
orchard of plum, apple and pear
a blackwalnut tree, one white pine,
groves of white oak and willow clumps
the home of Jessie was largely redwood
blood, flesh and bone sprouted
inside her womb of redwood
for five generations
the trees now stand unpruned and wild
after relocating so many years before the War
the seeds of Jessie have returned
afternoon sunlight on the field
breezes moving grass and leaves
memories with family names wait
within the earth, the mountains,
the valley, the field, the trees
Copyright Credit: William Oandasan, “Grandmothers Land” from Round Valley Songs. Copyright © 1984 by William Oandasan. Reprinted by permission of West End Press.
Source: Round Valley Songs (West End Press, 1984)