Life On Hooves Poem by Suzanne Hayasaki

I am the buffalo.
I am life on millions of hooves.
Or at least I was.
My numbers have shrunk.

At one time, I sustained the people.
My flesh fed them.
My hides sheltered them.
My bones became axes and awls.
The people were thankful.
I was grateful to serve, to preserve life.

Then a new breed of hunter appeared.
He did not understand me.
He did not respect me.
He slaughtered me.
He left my body to rot.

My spirit returned to its source.
I curled up deep within my core.
When Man drove me from the earth
This world lost much of its magic.

Until Man learns to dance
None can walk in beauty.
Until Man finds his balance
None will be at peace.

Man must remember his humility
Or drive all life into extinction with him.