Portside

Over There

By Esther Kamkar

My Zuni friend says:
They burn people over there,
they just burnt a pilot last week.
They are talking to us.
They want to tell us something.
They want to tell us that they know our history:
How the Indians were killed over here.

How the Indians were burnt in groups of thirteen.
First they were hung, toes barely touching the ground,
then wrapped in hay and lit on fire.
Twelve for the Disciples, and one for Jesus.
He says:
They are talking to us, they mean
to tell us that they know our history.

Esther Kamkar lives, works, and writes in Northern California.

www.estherkamkar.com