If I were a Native

If I were a Native
I wouldn’t like it
If I were called a
Siberian Land-Bridge
Asian,
By those pretending
To be American
Of European descent;
Who got me liquored
Up on bingo, casinos,
reservation living,
white man’s clothes,
Who did more than
Just beat a drum
In my face, but
Killed my ancestors,
the buffalo,
All for gold, beaver
And steak.

Reviews

[Papaya]

things gained for one are often at the cost of things lost for another.
it's a shame that we take so easily without respecting or even questioning where our wealth comes from
survival is one thing but humanity suffers for it sometimes
a well written and thought provoking write, Maxwell

[Maxwell Ryder]

Exactly. Our expansion and current power came at the expense of so many.

[barleygirl]

Thank you for writing such a scorchingly honest depiction of how it might feel to be a Native American. Impactful details. I have been reading Cherrie Palmer (here at the Cafe) who also writes eloquently about how the Natives were decimated. Too bad the greedy didn't stop & listen to the Native spiritual way of taking care of our natural resources & planet. The destruction continues, sadly. Love your poem! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Maxwell Ryder]

My poetry honors the unfairly genocided. It’s lovely you spent your time reading, as always. I will look up this author. Sounds like a comrade in arms. Cheers, Margie

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i always feel guilty about what we did to the Native Americans when we came to this land. It was theirs and they knew how to live on it, and with it...and respected it and the animals that roamed on it.
We, on the other hand, well...that story is pretty obvious.
heavy hitting write, Maxwell...
especially partial to "did more than Just beat a drum in my face"----that is a solid slap of a phrase.

[Maxwell Ryder]

Jacob, sorry for missing your comment here. I appreciate your words more than you know. Thanks for the read, and come again. Cheers, M

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i surely will come again...and if you get time...give me a visit, too.
j.

[Chris]

People who forget the past ALWAYS relive it. And though it is a cliche - cliches ARE the most common statements more often accepted as fact. We all come from parents (recognized as such or not) and THEY come from parents - ad infinatum. And today our particular societal morality is THIS civilization's measure for day-to-day acceptance. The rule of law is only as effective AND affective as its enforcement. What is right is only right until it is wrong.

Eating is a hell of a habit to have to break. Hunger hurts and children cry when they hurt. And what you eat matters at least to you. And you only own ANYTHING so long as you pay their taxes on it. Who made the Royals of the WORLD ...Royal?

[Maxwell Ryder]

The question is do we have to destroy nations to eat. In theory, with all the good the USA sends out, it can feed itself, and then some.

[Chris]

I agree - the US feeds a large portion of the world. But we have this way of deciding what we believe is the only "right" way... our way - never theirs.

[Maxwell Ryder]

Chris, I didn’t properly thank you for reading...sorry...and thank you. Come again as you see fit. It was refreshing.