Descendancy
Grandfather
here is the space where I list Lenape stories you told
here is the space where you chose to remain silent
here is how many stories you told me about:
Romances of “Indian” lovers killing themselves: 0
Movie parts of “Indian” extras falling off horses: 0
Fake shamans: 0
Per capita payments: 0
here is what you told me to fight against
Corporate greed:
No person is worth a million dollars.
Union busters:
We wore paper bags over our heads with holes for eyes
so they couldn’t know us and kill us.
The Ku Klux Klan:
They came for me in the night with tar and feathers.
Grandfather, wanishi, thank you.
“Descendancy” from House of Grace, House of Blood © 2024 by Denise Low. Reprinted by permission of the University of Arizona Press.