Navajo Country

Where are you from? Here? Or
further off wind
tickles the hair on my arm when I say
where I'm from vibrates through oak
floorboards where a Navajo band played.

'Get up and dance!' the singer said.
'Don't be afraid.' Two girls got up from their chairs
and danced, shyly in the wings.

Born in Seattle, Paul Zilly works at CASA Latina, a community-based organization that serves Latino day laborers.