An Apology

For Norife Herrera Jones


We didn't shout     in the streets     for you.
There were     no raised fists,     no cameras.
Where the Pajaro River     opens its mouth,

to guide our elders     back to native waters,
there was     no one     to bless your passage.
We didn't fight     for you. We forgot to cast

our nets for you. We didn't know you     were
falling. We should have     caught you. When
we didn't     see you     we blamed     the TV,

when the TV noise     smothered you, when
the TV     forgot to     say your name,     when
you ran, when you broke     into pieces. We

should have recognized your name     as kin.
We should have     raised our voices for you.
We should have     raised     all hell     for you,

whetted our     teeth and talons,     as blades,
as spears. We should have     thundered, so
your spirit     would know     its way     home.




From Invocation to Daughters (City Light Books, 2017). All rights reserved. Reprinted with the permission of the author.