LIFE ON THE REZ #3

(Election year 1996)

The Indian Red
Sun lights up the sand beaches
Morning tide recedes
revealing oysters and clams
I fill my bucket for lunch

Politicians vie
to be president of this
violent nation
Swearing oaths in the fresh blood
of the jobless and homeless

American planes
bomb nations made of sand
Tupac is gunned down
An unwanted baby starves
No one wants her anymore

An angel has died
Bones snapped by mother's own hands
Someone has raped her
No one heard her screams of pain
Death gave her wings to fly free

The president's race
Bill and Bob's great adventure
Pledges of vapor
What does it matter to me
I still work hard for my lunch