Elizabeth at Canyon de Chelly

Among red shirts and the long purple skirts,
Elizabeth stood out like a thumb.
She was not yet three,
pure blond
with eyes that were almost
turquoise blue.

Her hair and eyes
shined silver in the morning sun
out on the edge the rim
where ravens spun
barrel rolls
for our entertainment.

Where she napped on sand,
sun was bright and there was a wind.
I feared for her tender skin, she was so fair.
So we went back
to the Trading Post which is where
we started.

I bought a blue bandana to make a scarf.
As I knelt to tie it in place,
old women watched me
to see if I could do it correctly,
but, so politely,
smiles hidden by thin brown hands.