Bruja

All noise, all life
abruptly put on pause
stopped still 
her motion erratic and broken

something queer
limp wrist shaking
irregular pattern
not waving, beckoning, or pointing
conducting soundless music

for just a moment
we were nowhere else
in exactly this place
and this time

her frail body, buried beneath
layers of heavy ashen wool
woven remnants of a serape 

fall from her shoulders

blood red kerchief

adorned with bits of metal
bright in the hot summer sun
hanging loosely beneath her chin

heavy black work boots
second-hand, one size too large
thin soles supplemented
with last weeks Sunday paper

she plunged into the unknown
again and again
but always returned

anywhere can be here
when nowhere is home
while I
trudged forward
in a strait line
away from where I started

vacant eyes peer from under
a tobacco spit brown cowboy hat

frayed eagle feathers and beads
looking at me 

and through me
her lips move silently
casting spells

afraid my world

will only be seen
through her eyes
cursed with vision