She survives on a modest
diet of her own grass
until the Sun sends
her the Corn Maiden

She dances with her
own grass transforming
it into maize

The first stalk she touches
turns into yellow flames

The second stalk sends
clouds of blue smoke
into the air

The third stalk ignites
and becomes a fiery
red ember

The fourth stalk reaches
its zenith, sending forth
a white-hot flame

At the fifth stalk, it
erupts in multicolored
sparks

It sputters out at the
sixth, leaving black
ashes

Thus, the six colors of
corn known to the Zunis;
yellow, blue, red, white,
speckled, and black.

She comes into the world!

Copyright 2006, Sage Sweetwater, firebrand lesbian novelist, brainchild of Sage Sweetwater Creative Properties, flagship of Stone Creek Woman