Worth Winning

Worth Winning


You're shooting pool with a stranger, a red-headed
white man who shoudn't be here,
shooting eight-ball at a dollar a game.
Small time, but the red-headed white man
keeps winning, never misses,
and you know losing a dollar means losing a beer,
and you're getting more sober and broke,
but you're not the kind of Indian
to wait outside and jump
this red-headed white man, steal your money
and his money. You're not even much of an Indian,
you suppose, with your short hair, and even teeth,
but all the Skins in the bar are watching
the red-headed white man beat your ass,
and you know they'll take the money
if you don't, they will probably kill this
red-headed white man for a few dollars,
so you have nothing and everything to lose,
and after you give him your last dollar
and he leaves, you follow him with a pool cue,
and you're not the kind of Indian who would do this,
but you follow him, thinking
maybe you can call this your last stand.


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