When I look back on the time in between, there are so many periods where I knew something significant was missing and I now realize it was creative expression.
Sometimes I choose a random five-year period in my life and photograph in my mind as many memories as I can dredge up from that chunk of time. I shuffle through the mental pictures, choose one, and challenge myself to write a poem or story about it.
My audience is a moving target. It’s all about sharing, so each time I compose, I am working for those who share life experience with me.
I hope my work, particularly in the transposition of Chiricahua traditional stories into contemporary contexts, helps afford readers an insight into how we Chiricahua conceive of the world, our connection to our land, and our obligations to steward it.
For me, the act of writing is one of continued discovery and surprise, and I find it absolutely thrilling to be guided by the unconscious and to uncover meaning.