Mistranslation of a Traditional Spokane Indian Song

Mistranslation of a Traditional Spokane Indian Song


and then bear says to me
that he wishes he did not have to sleep through the winter
because he has seen the photograph
and is quite convinced
that snow is most beautiful
on the midnight basketball court
of a reservation town
where the dark ghosts of Indian children
leave no trace of their passing
as they run from hoop to hoop
way ya hi yo
way ya hi yo


Sherman Alexie.........from The Summer of Black Widows