We came this way we came this way which has not yet been discovered         this way by a Dane across a narrow arm of mast or sea this way we came our skin is red-orange from the sun & wild mulberry juice         our skin is mysterious, scattered with ice-colored clouds of cottonwood seeds this way our skin is a continent journeying over mapless water this way we are beautiful         in our ears, long indigo blue loops of cotton & white pearls, aqua-pink shells         this way we always hear the sea         & in our noses like green crescent moons: bright stones         our hair loose & straight as rain we came skirted in woven willow, or fibers of maguay, fine cotton         this way we came naked or in blue capes, skins of night jaguars & green-eyed stars this way we became animals in the spiral breaths of mountain roars, this way into the rivers dark-mouthed centers         we came discovered, discovering thick forests of ebony, brazil & rosewood where birds can not fly this way we heard the alligators dreaming of carving sky into flesh shapes so we came to ford rivers with loud talking         this way we are called People Who Shout it is our way we came to our enemies & killed them     this way: with flint knives & spikes embedded in the ground     with poisoned arrows     with blood spattered war clubs, spears with men drinking the juice of the mescal plant & dancing this way we impale our enemies heads on poles         we insult them this way everyone fears us so we are safe this way we live when it floods: we build houses in the trees dreaming of red stars falling into our hands this way we enter the water of our souls we came to the ocean to harvest sea kelp, pearls         with nets of sisal fiber we fish this way         there are deer, wild pig, rabbits, iguanas which we hunt this way; where there is water in the hollow of trees we find them & break their jaws, stringing them together this way we can hunt many hours with fresh meat & later, with our fingers we probe for small stones in the iguana's stomach         these are good medicine the hechiceros suck out thorns, sticks or pebbles         it goes this way out we came to corn, beans, squash,         from the north we came, carrying tobacco & pieces of coral,         silver in medicine bags, small knots of scalps, animal or human         we passed this way with our youngest & oldest from far north         only the Spaniards came from the southeast they came with gifts of smallpox & slavery         this way they came with spotted horses & striped blankets which we wore this way over the arm which pointed north when they asked where there were riches of gold or silver         away that way we said, go north         there you will find what you seek         far north across the narrow sea       follow the Red Road into Asia,       go back far until you come to Spain       go home       that way       go that way & leave us for we have come this way         this way we came.