This is another poem about the process of selling my work.
And I was telling people this morning
that now, instead of selling it, I look for homes for them.
And the most wonderful people come to my studio,
and begin sharing their lives with me,
and they take home a part of me to their home,
and that that's become a real important way of me dealing
with the business, and that I can make people happy,
and they will help me realize my dreams.
This is called "Change and Tradition"--
"Tradition and Change."
"My mission was to sell pottery from booth 109.
So early that morning I drove to San Ildefonso, the pueblo.
I expected this market of arts and crafts to be full.
A full day in many ways, hundreds of steel frame booths
filled the center of the pueblo.
Cars streamed in at a steady pace,
while summer's heat became relentless.
Oh yes, and there were people, all kinds,
from everywhere, looking to buy with spend in their eyes.
Maybe for pottery, I hope so.
Too expensive, Myrtle, I heard this man say to his wife
as she reached for one of my clay forms,
his words pressing her onward to the next booth.
If it was jewelry they were looking
for, this was the place, everything from finely crafted
turquoise inlaid bracelets, to Mickey Mouse earrings set
in mother of pearl, his nose in jet,
and those shorts of Mickey painted in coral stone.
The summer's temperature rose as the loudspeaker
blared continuous news of a disco dance
being held that evening in another pueblo,
warning visitors to stay off the kiva steps,
and reminding us that Navajo tacos were being sold
at any one of the refreshment stands along the outer walls
of the village.
A candidate for governor hurried by shaking hands,
almost desperately, with anyone who looked of voting age.
It was then I turned away trying to shake off
this state I had entered.
You know, that state of mind that displaces you
for just a second.
Oh yes, oh yes, this is San Ildefonso Pueblo in the 90s.
All this made me wonder where our people were headed,
what our ancestors would think about a Navajo taco going
for $3.75.
I thought about change affecting our tradition, change
and tradition, change and tradition,
on this hot, full day."
[APPLAUSE]