Rebirth of Day
The sky is a black abyss, When hints of a dim glow appear. Minutes tick away. A startling red sweeps across the sky, Like paint on a black canvas. Then all is still. Minutes tick away, but it seems like …
Poetry
Poetry
Poetry
Poetry
Live Fast, Love Hard, and Die Young
To my brother Do you know that my earliest memory of you was when I rode on your shoulder? You dropped me, and I cut my head. The scar is still there. Later, I remember you helping our mother a …
Superficial Wounds
They really beat up the bear; That was when he left home. I think it was to find true love— Little did he know it never was far, Nor did anyone figure that was his goal. Everyone thought he was …
The Big Meeting
Thunderheads of Minds loomed menacingly on the horizon. The meeting began, instantaneous and voluble— A sprinkling of words A showering of thoughts A gushing of sincerity A drenching of facts and names Then, a flushing torrent of opinions— A flashing …
The Black Sea’s Water Tastes Like Tears
I watch the waves roll over me, I feel the water batter its boundary. Jagged land’s teeth restrain me, resisting This warm salt embrace that calms and compels me To enter an ocean of tears From when Creator cried (When …
Winds of Breath Blow
In darkness millions of stars shoot and float about this vast universe casting magic spells Fragments of light and zaps of energy collect into clear turquoise blue sky embrace Winds of breath blow across this blessed North American continent Nookoonan—our …
1997 Introduction by Marjane Ambler
The breath and blood of tribal college students flow through the pages that follow. The students represent different cultures, different colleges, and different generations, but they all take their writing seriously. Shanna Estigoy conveys their passion for writing when she …
Crow Boy and the Magic Feather
The crystal dew drops of rain fell upon Crow Boy’s head and woke him from sleep. He opened his eyes slowly because he wasn’t excited to see this newborn day. He loathed the colors of nature, the beauty of it …
In the House of a Raven
One night as I lay in my bed dreaming, a large bird came to carry me to the stars. “These are your relatives,” he stated. The bird and I came to land on an enormous, windswept beach. “This is your …
Growing Up
Growing up on an Indian reservation is not unlike growing up anywhere else. You get in the same scrapes as a kid, argue with your parents as a teen, and have hopes and dreams for yourself, just like anyone else. …