Alice Corbin

From “New Mexico Songs”

PEDRO MONTOYA of Arroyo Hondo

Comes each day with his load of wood

Piled on two burros’ backs, driving them down

Over the mesa to Santa Fé town.

He comes around by Arroyo Chamisa—

A small grey figure, as grey as his burros—

Down from the mountains, with cedar and pine

Girt about each of the burros with twine.

As patient as they are, he waits in the plaza

For someone who comes with an eye out for wood,

Then Pedro wakes up, like a bantam at dawn—

Si, Señor, si Señor—his wood is gone.

Pedro Montoya of Arroyo Hondo

Rides back on one burro and drives the other,

With a sack of blue corn-meal, tobacco and meat,

A bit to smoke and a bit to eat.

Pedro Montoya of Arroyo Hondo—

If I envied any, I’d envy him!

With a burro to ride and a burro to drive,

There is hardly a man so rich alive.