Citizen Kane

Citizen Kane


How we are hungry for the word
to rise from our dark belly
past the throat and teeth,

one word

to change or not change
the world.

It doesn't matter which
as long as our failures are spectacular:

Big Mom lay on her cancer bed and cried out "Frybread";
Lester slapped hs drunk arms and legs
and whispered "Snakes";
Junior sold his blood for the 100th time
and asked "Forgiveness".

Believe me, nothing is forgotten for history.

Rosebud.

Believe me, nothing is innocent
when the camera rolls,
our sins are black and white.

Rosebud

Listen, when the sun falls
audibly on the reservation
each of us choose the word
that determines our dreams:

whiskey
salmon
absence.


Sherman Alexie........from Old Shirts & New Skins