NCORE 2000
Kevis A. Rivers
June 7, 2000

Arriving in Santa FE, New Mexico
I was under the impression that
Since we were in the desert,
The weather would be excessively warm,
The day after out arrival
It appeared that we were in the eye of the storm,
But even when the wind was cold,
Scattering the sand savagely,
The atmosphere created by the people
That I encountered was excessively warm,
Quite a refreshing change from the cold shoulders
That I experience on the norm.

Quaint plaza,
Indian produced precious artifacts,
More art galleries and museums than one could ever hope to attend
Spicy, Southwestern cooking,
Pueblo style architecture,
Edward James Olmos
Described delicious, delightful, diversity salad,
But where are the tomatoes?
Dr. Warrior answered that question the next day
With the force of a hurricane.

Now I'm keeping it real with  Timothy Sams
Culturally centered in leadership,
Meanwhile, the compelling question is
Can We talk?
Leonard Zeskind can,
Informing us of the leadership
Behind those blithering idiots who blow up churches
And commit murder in the name of God,
Helen Zia definitely can,
Expressing the challenges faced by our Asian American
Brothers and sisters.

Wonderful students, faculty, administrators
Congregating in this central location from across the land,
Smiling, caring, laughing, shaking a hand,
Elevating spirits and making horizons expand,
Concerned, caring allies,
Able to understand,
Communicate, empathize, educate, and explain,
I even befriended a good-hearted madman
Who skydives regularly and has ran the bulls
In Pamplona, Spain.

Copyright 2000, Kevis A. Rivers

    Kevis was a semi-finalist in a national competition with his poem "Bouncing Baby Boys" at www.poetry.com and his work will also be published in the anthology "The Falling Rain".  Check it out !!!