first nation identity

It was always death that caused the controversy
As we ran through the playground
Armed with imaginary pistols and bows.

“Shields can’t stop bullets”
“Your arrow whistled passed my ear”
“You weren’t firing high enough”

For those who lost this war of words
Resurrection was just a hand touch away
As the lifeless crawled without sound looking for a friend

Just one tap on the arm
and battle was re-commenced
Until the bell sounded for the end of play

Today the debate I contemplate
is not death
nor whether a shield can deflect the flight of a bullet

Native American, Indigenous American,
First American, First Nation,
Whatever name I use perpetuates a grave injustice,

Bolsters those wild west myths
Leaves their land cold, stolen, a playing field
polluted by the white and the rich

This is no war for words that can be lost
To simply denigrate as some woke infested fury
For it is all that there is and more

It is life and death.

ashyvicar