Native American Poetry from Year of The Poet (Vol 52)
Featured in The Year of the Poet April, 2018 Volume 52.
Eyewitness to Peace
Imagine entering a room full of peace
‘Eyewi in Nez Perce
be an eyewitness
see peace everywhere
does it change the way you walk
As you witness peace
a smile a handshake
a friendly wave
it is there in the air
together we breath
California Condor
Fifth-graders learning about conservation
get to bestow a power name
on a California Condor
at the World Center
for Birds of Prey in Boise
Winning with Piyopyoot’ alikt
a Nez Perce term
bird alighting
187 entries 27 schools
suggest Eyewi Nez Perce peace
Wewexp Nez Perce spring
Inspiration a film
California Condors flying
the Grand Canyon
smoothly the large birds
descend and land
Piyopyoot’ alikt lives and lands
at Condor Cliffs her male companion
to be named next summer
Peregrine Fund raises condors
releasing them wild
near Arizona’s Grand Canyon
to inspire more children
Innaaissttiiya Peace in Blackfoot
Waiting writing at a carwash
into the wash bay
soon as the young couple
has finished
a large pickup truck
proud bright blue chrome
shiny in the sun
Glacier county license plate
the other side of my mountains
dress, complexion, shape of their faces, demeanor
all tell me they are Blackfeet.
.
Another handful of quarters
I could back up
look for another
save a couple minutes
But two little kids in the cab
five or six years old
Dad stops washing
sprays soapy water
on the windows wherever
the kids appear
I see delighted
two extra dollars
playing games with his kids
I watch write enjoy
a found Paul Burnham story
Originally published in The Year of The Poet (Vol 52) at http://www.innerchildpress.com/the-year-of-the-poet.php on April 1, 2018.
