By Will Falk
early one day I was walking
down by Mission Beach
with the sky over San Diego harbor
and we saw a lot of strange things
like Cahuilla sailors joining the navy
trading one desert for another
like Mixtec men helping to build a replica
of Cabrillo the explorer’s flagship
the San Salvador
we saw modern steel warships, too
standing tall as kings
and cold as tidal spray
when the gray fog gave way
to a red sky in the morning
and Támit, the sun, joined us
peeking over the eastern hills
we spied one Cahuilla sailor
who knew his proverbs
sneaking off a warship
stealing away from his post
sprinting across the shoreline
until he disappeared from sight
maybe to warmer sands in Mexico
maybe to tequila in Tijuana
maybe to more familiar deserts
then the rabbits and the deer
heeding the red sky warning
fled for the hills
before the dogs came barking
we saw a lot of strange things
the sky, the sun, and I
as we walked Mission Beach one day
none of us could say for sure
if that Cahuilla sailor made it
or just what it all meant
I recently moved to San Diego from Milwaukee, WI where I was a public defender. I am looking for life outside of law. My first passion is poetry and I am interested in the way the land speaks through the poet. If you can’t find me drinking too much coffee in Cafe Calabria, I’ll be on a rock somewhere in Joshua Tree.
Will Falk
Latest posts by Will Falk (see all)
- Time to Escalate? First-Ever Rights of Nature Lawsuit Dismissed - December 7, 2017
- The Rights of Nature and the Power of Law - October 18, 2017
- Why Does the Colorado River Need to Sue For Rights? - September 25, 2017
I’m from Milwaukee and trust me after 40 years I know enough to suggest that you made a smart choice. Thanks for the poem.
I appreciate the kind words, Jim. Looking at pictures of my friends digging themselves out of the snow, and I’m feeling pretty good about the decision.