Retreat Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

Retreat

Am reading "War Trail, "
Cameron's, on Big Bear.

Let my thoughts ride the air
To go, melt and wander
In the old times, mountains…

Picture my ancestors
Retreat, broken…

It may be old, ancient
To many observers
But not to descendants…

I was not anywhere
When they ran far away
To escape invaders
That imposed new ways!

"You pagans, savages, "
They were called, insulted.

Half dressed, hungry
See people, while the kids
Keep crying for milk
That mothers are without…

My parents were farmers,
Their parents, too, farmers,
Learned raising animals
In very basic ways…

As their heir
I feel the injustice
That imposed invaders.

My lovely siblings
Called: "Cree, Prairies', "
Forced we are in same ship!
Retreat is a wound, suffering
On it salt, poured by the enemy!