it is said
in Hawaiian indigenous traditions
that to know the winds of a place
is to know the place itself
it is said that the winds
are the living spirits of the place
that exist within and without
in one passage
of the Hawaiian Pelé epic
Pelé walks the coast
and is able to name
hundreds of types of winds
he names
the fragrance bearing wind
the wind of idle chatter
the wind that bears down
on people
to name the winds
is to honor them
and this place the define
and hearing this
I thought of here
this place with so much wind
which I have walked within
for most of my life
there is so much negative talk
about the mountain winds
and its growing strength
in years past
but the winds are as much
a part of here as we are
if not very much more so
so let us name some of them
let us get to know this place
and its spirits
here are some of the winds
whom I know
the wind which carries the winter
that cold breath in late August
the wind which carries spring
almost like a lover's breath
warm on the side of your cheek
the wind which turns snow
to tiny knives
we all know this one
and how walking the dog in it
becomes it own game of survival
but isn’t it invigorating
to make it back inside
after facing this wind
and lately there is the wind
which breaks branches
this great rushing of the world
the wind that can
turn snow sideways
the wind that can uproot trees
perhaps it may seem silly
or unnatural at first
to name the winds
in our human centered language
but once you start
it is hard to stop
let us not lament the wind
any longer
for we are lucky
to live in such a place as this
that has so many spirits
which move through the trees
which shake the windows
perhaps in naming them
we can come to know them better
know this place better
know these winds in ourselves too
so go outside
as the wind blows
and introduce yourself
and then listen
as the wind tells you its name

Alexander Shalom Joseph is an award-winning poet, writer and playwright from Gilpin County, and is the author of seven published books. You can find his work and more information about him at www.alexandershalomjoseph.com.