APSAALOOKE

Avi Fox

creases of sweat
	rush down my cheek
      into my mouth
		press a bag made of elk leather
	to my lips
	      smoke
      tobacco; peyote
	us amongst Ammiliiwaxpe
		her amongst Iichikbaalia

and she is pretty
         ítchikisshe
and she is pretty
         dáaxpishe
and she is pretty
         íttaache
and she is pretty
         ítchikshe

      and she is gone
	and the chants stop
and the crows fly up
		from the hawthorns below

Why am I here?
	ivory
		       spanked with privilege
		swathed and fruitful

Káalixaalia steps out from the fire
                   ittanneéhiissee

May we progress to that day
        So I take her hand
	       and I rejoin the circle
by the creek bed

Avi is a passionate poet and author. He’s been published twice and hopes to be published more in the future. He’s a senior (with an extra year to go) in psych and creative writing. He loves his cats and his guinea pig, and he hates the texture of flannel sheets.