Golden Gate Park -- January 2001

walking through the park
I came across an open field
surrounded by a few trees

and in the field I saw four small girls
carrying huge branches
taller than they were
as if giant feathers
or eagles wings
white and brown
waving back and forth

and the girls were in long dresses
with their hair down
moving in unison
half running
half dancing
and chanting words I could not hear
as if taking part in
a tribal dance
a sacred rite

and I was almost overcome
by the beauty
and the grandeur
so I moved closer
until I could hear their chant:

War war war
Prepare for war!
Kill kill kill
Prepare for war!
War war war!
Prepare for war . . .