Poem – Dance of Tears, Chief Nobody (By Michael Lee Johnson)
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Dance of Tears, Chief Nobody (V5)
By Michael Lee Johnson
I’m old Indian chief story
plastered on white scattered sheets,
Caucasian paper blowing in yesterday’s winds.
I feel white man’s presence
in my blindness–
cross over my ego my borders
urinates over my pride, my boundaries–
I cooperated with him until
death, my blindness.
I’m Blackfoot proud, mountain Chief.
I roam southern Alberta,
toenails stretch to Montana,
born on Old Man River−
prairie horse’s leftover
buffalo meat in my dreams.
Eighty-seven I lived in a cardboard shack.
My native dress lost, autistic babbling.
I pile up worthless treaties, paper burn white man.
Now 94, I prepare myself an ancient pilgrimage,
back to papoose, landscapes turned over.
I walk through this death baby steps,
no rush, no fire, nor wind, hair tangled−
earth possessions strapped to my back rawhide−
sun going down, moon going up,
witch hour moonlight.
I’m old man slow dying, Chief nobody.
An empty bottle of fire-water whiskey
lies on homespun rug,
cut excess from life,
partially smoked homemade cigar–
barely burning,
that dance of tears.
*Music Video Credit: Native American Indian Music - Sunset Ceremony- Earth Drums 02 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtdYWcoYKWo
[su_michael_lee_johnson]