By Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes
Surrounded
by houses malls
the ghosts of Mule Hill
pinned down by charging Interstate
under fire from lancing nine irons
shooting 18 holes
Saddlebags burned
sabers thrust into dirt
blades
broken
Kearney’s defeated Dragoons
awaiting reinforcements
that never come
Author’s Notes: Mule Hill is in Escondido, California. On December 7, 1846, General Stephen W. Kearny and his company dragoons were surrounded on Mule Hill by General Don Andrés Pico’s lancers. Kearny retreated to the hill after his initial attack on the Mexican forces at San Pasqual. 18 American soldiers died in the conflict. The battle was part of the Mexican American War.
On July 13, 1970 , a team of archeologists helped by US Marines uncovered evidence of the fight on Mule Hill. Among the items they found buried approximately 4 inches under the surface were the broken blades of sabers. The weapons were apparently destroyed by Kearny’s men after they were rescued by 200 sailors from San Diego.
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I really love your sense of place, Ish. And, wow, what an image: broken sabers buried (barely) under the soil.
I try to listen to what the land is saying and sometimes the land is speaking so loudly the poem writes itself if I can just put myself in the position to HEAR.
I heard you say that the job of the poet is to listen. I think you’re doing an amazing job!
Thanks for your work, Ish.
Yes, Will said it well.
Thank you Ish, for being such an expert listener, for sharing what you hear.