Summer's End

Summer's End

by Armando Ortiz

Towards summer's end

nearing the harvest moon

sitting in the time of dreams

we broke bread and made memories

giving thanks and respect to those we love

Towards summer's end

approaching the Autumn moon

within realms of dreams

the sun arose and stars cleared

night came to an end

and we vanished into the wind.

Wading in Water

Wading in Water

by Armando Ortiz

wading in water

along Onion Valley trail

where melting droplets

in nature's weight flows

the white noise of running creeks

sting like icy needles

and exiting an alpine lake

gives warm shivers

floating in upper stream pools

I return to that childhood

where shimmers buoyantly move

and arms resist the gentle force

the waft of sagebrush vapors

wander under the shade of aspen shrubs-

I wish to be wading in water

thoughts meandering next to bliss

Kearsarge

Kearsarge

by Armando Ortiz

I sit meditating

on the southern slope of a mountain

the shadow of the north face

breaks free from its boundary

stratus clouds momentarily veil the sunlight

the landscape darkens as if it were night

the silence of Buddha is broken

as chipmunks from ground to rock scurry by

cold winds funnel down the alpine valley

making ripples and howls within rocks surrounding

colossal statue cracked unmoving

sits ringed with dabs of purple violet irises

crown of frozen grey and melting ice

is like a dream to my city eyes

Dream of Mountains: Short Piece

Dream of Mountains

by Armando Ortiz

I dream of hiking mountains
walking giant mortars
on alpine canyons
one continual upward motion

Life conceived extremes
thousands of winters
foxtails untouched by hands
firmly sweeping the wind they stand

wild flowers long harsh winter endured
late June rough gravel break through
granite peppered with pine green
where purple iris edge against a cairn

to watch molcajetes steaming with life
to walk on giant rocks
and stroll along grey cliffs
with white peaks that silently lie

to journey to a frozen conception
that melts into hidden cracks
and traverse giant mammoth molars
and glide on the air like a flying dinosaur.

In the name....

In the name…….

By Armando Ortiz

In the name of whom should we improve our communities when public schools are dismantled, and lay barren of hope?

In whose name do students get over tested to miss out on funds, and on an exploration of electives?

In whose name does the cutting of public school funds benefit the public, and support learning?

In whose name are educators forced to fight for what is right? To be able guide the youth and time for deep thinking.

In whose name is a child’s future put on the line and seen as a number and not a name, a result, not a journey?

In whose name does the serpent of privatization enter the house of impoverished communities, and tear up the one guaranteed right for every child?

In whose name do teachers strike, but for community, a decent future and healthy prospects.

In the name of equality and fairness is that we fight.

Despite immense odds, we stand up to fight against oligarchs, private entrepreneurs, corporate unknowns that never have seen the eyes of understanding or heard the anguish of student suffering.

In the name of justice, humanity, equality, the public good and freedom we strike.