Collateral Damage

for Sherman Alexie

My people are dying.
Our brains float turgid in our skulls taking on more and more water 
Our thoughts capsize
and must be fished with a net.

Our chieftain is a man.
Our chieftain is the only person who speaks the language of the outsiders.
Our chieftain is our only hope.
Our chieftain is a rapist.

It is with a heavy head that I must report
that no one is coming to save us
because our chieftain has failed.

No tears are shed
​(all the water is inside us)
At the very least
​we will soon forget.