white messiah

by Jen Meunier

the white messiah came to town

when nobody worshiped he got let down

smile as sharp as a thorny crown

there was solidarity all around

    until we talked of power

and whose land their nice homes are built upon

whose dead lie restless under manicured lawns

and where did all their wealth come from

     until we questioned their power

 the ivory cocks on indian lane chant

“we’re all treaty people, so sign our land claim!”

their windigo profits are hungry again

for a peace bought and kept with white power

they came again the other day

but nobody wanted to hear what they say

(not till they burned down their jails, anyway)

        there is peace in the ashes of power