“Within this cage, the killing of her spirit was daily from being forced to speak a language that was not her own and to learn of a culture she was not born into.”

“I had not eaten anything sweet in months. It felt amazing. That’s when I thought of a plan—a plan to get rid of both Peter and Karen.”

“She felt breathing in her ear and knew there must be someone behind her. The whispers got louder as she got closer to the door.”

“A man walked into an El Paso Wal-Mart, training his aim on families gearing up for back-to-school. Mothers were armed with carts with new backpacks, markers, glue, and notebooks.”

“It started off as little specks of smoke and eventually turned into a single fire all in one. As I reached the ground, I went as fast as I could in the opposite direction of the flames.”

“The Warriors versus the Cowgirls, too fantastic to be made up, and the mascots couldn’t be more fitting.”

“Old dogs of Taos, dream off wounds – together they sleep in shade under clouds, dozing off sunshine in the long shadow of the old earth house.”

“In the beginning, she gifted us life-giving waters. Swelling from underneath, she gave birth to the water panthers and horned serpents.”

“beneath umbrellas of drooping purple petals, sticks with triangular heads hold curved handles, thin membranes stretch for tiny legs to back—stroke . . .”