angel tree

one year on the rez
i picked a boy and girl’s name
from the angel tree
bought them winter jackets
hats gloves
a play outfit
and jammies
a week after Christmas
was surprised to see
my niece and nephew
wearing the clothes i bought
i just said
‘nice jacket’
and they smiled.
--nila northSun

me and my daughter, mishon at bman 2011

 

6 years of yesterday

deep inside a howling darkness
her forearms are sliced
the skin spread
sown back with
thick thread
6 years of yesterday
hidden
under the bed.

5 card stud

he wanted to learn how
to play poker
i said we needed whisky
and cowboy hats
5 card stud
7 card draw
2's 4's and one-eyed jacks wild
i think after a while
i was making up rules
no peekee no lookee
i forget the one where you
stick a card on your forehead
beginner's luck as he
raked in the chips
i didn't mention strip poker
as we both
look better covered up.

emme

in her small newborn skull
and along her graceful spine
a bacteria grows
an inflammation between
skull and brain
that make her eyes see thru you
no longer focusing
that make her tiny limbs
convulse in baby tremors
that leave her fevered
and unresponsive to
the lumbar puncture
bacterial meningitis
the doctor says
and you are left
with your god of choice
or none at all.