Julian Part Ii Poem by Juan Olivarez

I have heard your voice,
In the wilderness.
I have heard your voice,
In the Santana winds.
I have heard your voice calling me,
As I crossed the San Gorgonio Pass.
I have heard your voice high on a mountain.
As a mountain lion stared me down.
And I answered your call,
And I was not afraid.
But I was weak and without faith.
But then I heard your voice once more.
Carried on the crisp air so wonderfully cold.
I heard your voice singing,
The sound filtering through the pines.
Such a beautiful Angelic song,
Even the cougar looked up to see.
As I followed the direction of his look,
I saw a wondrous thing.
Snowflakes like manna from on high,
Floated down,
Ever so slightly at first.
And the great cat turned to look at me once more,
Then silently and gracefully,
Disappeared up into the pin and scrub oaks,
On the side of the mountain.
I heard your voice again,
As a great grey cloud descended over everything,
Within my vision.
Slowly I turned and made my way,
Back up the mountain trail.
I felt strong in my faith,
And in my body.
I felt young again.
In less than an hour,
I was back in my rv,
Telling my grandkids,
About the singing in the pines.