Pedro Montoya of Arroyo Hondo comes each day with his two burros loaded with cedar and pine, driving them down the mesa into Santa Fe to sell firewood. The poem follows his unhurried routine: a small grey figure, as patient as his animals, waiting in the plaza until a buyer appears. Then he springs awake — “Si, Senor, si Senor” — and his wood is gone. He rides back with a sack of blue corn-meal, tobacco, and meat, just enough to get by. The speaker watches with open admiration, no judgment, just a gentle, almost wistful longing. In the final stanza, that feeling breaks into wonder: if there were anyone to envy, it would be Pedro, a man who seems “so rich alive” with nothing more than a burro to ride and one to drive. The mood is calm, sunlit, and unhurried. It hints that real wealth might be a steady pace, a bit to smoke and eat, and the freedom to ride home.
Pedro Montoya of Arroyo Hondo — Summary
Pedro Montoya of Arroyo Hondo Comes each day with his load of wood Piled on two burros' backs, driving them down Over the mesa to Santa Fe town.
He comes around by Arroyo Chamisa — A small grey figure, as grey as his burros — Down from the mountains, with cedar and pine Girt about each of the burros with twine.
As patient as they are, he waits in the plaza For someone who comes with an eye out for wood, Then Pedro wakes up, like a bantam at dawn — Si, Senor, si Senor — his wood is gone.
Pedro Montoya of Arroyo Hondo Rides back on one burro and drives the other. With a sack of blue corn-meal, tobacco and meat, A bit to smoke and a bit to eat.
Pedro Montoya of Arroyo Hondo — If I envied any, I'd envy him ! With a burro to ride and a burro to drive, There is hardly a man so rich alive.