el rio dolores
(1765)
down the desert’s rugged canyon
slope horses, men, mules
hot
burdened
slipping, sliding, horrid descent
towards
the river’s rush
reach it
too deep
too swift
troubles
sorrows
along it banks
mud
sucking
no foot
for beast for
men
seeking silver ore
oro de plata
to satisfy the governor de santa fe
themselves
seeking legends strange
bearded people
somewhere beyond este rio
loss of horses, men, mules, so many
sorrows
prompting the leader, man
with many names
juan antonio maria de rivera
to call upon
the virgin mary for help
ayuda nos
nuestra seῆora de los dolores
horses, men, and mules
saved
so el nombre del rio
our lady of sorrows—-dolores
March 2021
L. Luis Lopez
The photo is of Aaron Abeyta of San Luis, a past Western Slope Poet Laureate, although the page talks about current Western Slope Poet Laureate L. Luis López of Grand Junction.