San Vicente, Texas

By Gary Cardwell

San Vicente, Texas lies within Big Bend National Park and remains all but unknown, although once an active, small farming community.

BUT AN ETCHING NOW,

SCRIBES THE WAY STILL

TO THAT DUSTY RELIC

LOCKED AGAINST SUNBURNED SLOPES.

DIRT DEVILS WHISPERING BY

CARRY THEIR CARGO OF GRIT AND SCORCHING WIND

AFFORDING BANTAM RELIEF

FROM HEAT IMPOSSIBLE TO BREATH.

ECHOES OF HARD TIMES,

HAPPY FAMILIES,

AND SAD EXODUS

RING THE STILLNESS.

URGED BY CURIOSITY AND IMAGINATION,

VISIONS UNLIKELY AND DISTORTED... ABOUND.

AMUSED SPIRITS

STOOPED AND BENT

FROM LABORS INDESCRIBABLE

AND WEATHERED AS THE UNEVEN CROSSES

 STANDING SENTINEL

OVER GRAVES OF CITIZENS FORGOTTEN,

FOLLOW AND TOUCH,

LIVING AGAIN...

IF ONLY FOR A MOMENT.

HEAVY WITH NATURES OFFING

TREES OF WILD PERSIMMON

AWAIT A HAND ... FAMILIAR

BUT LOST TO THE IRRETRIEVABLE PAST,

TO HARVEST THEIR GIFT.

BROKEN GLASS

ONCE UNCLOUDED,

NOW WAXES OPAQUE AND PURPLE,

FASHIONING JEWELS

NEVER TO BE WORN.

WILD RIVER AND STOIC MOUNTAINS,

BLOWING WIND OF HEAT AND BITTER COLD,

SCARING SANDS AND RAINS UNEQUALLED,

MENTORS ALL,

URGE THIS SMALL SCAR TO HEAL,

TO RETURN TO THE LAND.

ADOBE MELTING,

IRON RUSTING,

WOOD IN DECAY,

SAN VICENTE... GOOD JOURNEY.

                      GMC JAN. 1997