Tuscarora Prayer Flags

Each spring I bring a string

of Tibetan prayer flags to Tuscarora.

At winter’s end, they are faded and frayed,

which tells you something

about the power of  wind.

I wish my hopes could ride the wind skyward.

Although I know the custom makes no sense,

If I did believe, this would be my plea:

Don’t turn my deepest needs to tumbleweeds

blown nowhere but against a barbed wire fence.