Finding writing inspiration in the murals of Denver, this one took me two days to write, so I am posting on Thursday (rather than Wednesday) with a note about my process. I am experiencing some frustration with writing these days.
Yesterday when I looked at this image, I wrote “Her braid/ like a river/ binding her/ to the land.” I waited to see if something more would come to me.
Today I decided to play more with syllables and consider different articles (a river or a desert?) (binds her to her land or this land?)
I typed up the post and came back to it later. Sometimes the smallest of poems pose the hardest challenge.
Her braid, blue like sky,
like river in a desert
binds her to this land.
Margaret Simon, draft
If you find inspiration in this image, please write a small poem in the comments. Support other writers with your responses.
Reflections on the Teche 
I like Mary Lee’s photo, the artwork itself, and your poem, Margaret. It shows the Native connection nature, which I also tried to convey here:
braid blends
into cactus
intertwining
human and land.
They are One.
-Jane Heitman Healy
Intertwining is a good word. Thanks for writing.
Love your process notes. I’m glad you stayed with it until it was well and truly polished.
The Queen,
on her throne the Sun,
with prickly pear attendants surrounding her,
deigns to give her subjects
a sidelong glance.
I love how you included the sun and the prickly pear in your personification of the mural.
Wonderful metaphor, Mary Lee.