Skip to main content

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

Join the discussion One Comment

  • 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.

Leave a Reply