La Chingona

The owl would not dare
to call her tree home.

  Ladling out posole
   possibilities and
     bowls of caldo
 de sabiduria

  This wisdom is
from the dust of
    experience and
the watchful faces
     between rain
 and fire.

She will marshal
   the grimy children
and show them
       when to be silent
and when to be loud
       to whisper
and to sing.

This short giant
    will wield her sandal
to protect the innocent and
     admonish the wicked

And when she departs
  she does not leave
    but stays with
the earth
     the smoke of the fire
        the truth
      of the river.