San Fernando Mission 1962

 

At the mission

Jesus wore a petticoat

A rare snow 

had come down

to bedeck the garden

and a shadow shrouded sundial

with millings of crystal

My mother showed me 

the curiosity--

Ice on the roses

dusted the petals

and their deep places

in between--

We walked to the car 

Someone had set

three oranges

on the bronze face

of the sundial

As if sweet orbs

had alighted

with brief snow

From the back seat

I could see the dark statue

Of Father Serra and

an Indian boy

I did not know

the boy was a slave

I smoothed my dress

across my knees

the way I had been

taught

Laura Stickney