This collection is for all Riverside Louis’. May we remember to honor these Burden Carriers. But, most of all, this is for Louis of Wabasca. Thank you Louis, for teaching me a new way to learn and love.
You can find a Riverside Louis in most Northern places. He is a real person who I admire and respect deeply. He taught me about the open wounds of my people and seeing beyond the actions to ask the “Why?” and “What must I learn from this?”
I wrote my first piece about him when he was run over in a hit and run by a young drunk driver.
Riverside Louis was the burden-carrier of our village. He had been given shelters, treatment centers, promises, but always came home to his bridge. The do-gooders only do good when it suits them. Louis knows this. He was always singing the blues. He did not know the boundaries, but then, Louis was edgy and knew more than we did, sometimes.
Not all Native Americans are afflicted with this sickness, nor does it mean they have surrendered to the animals. The animals manifest themselves as the level of alcohol goes up in any body. The same as the burdens of those who need the bottle, there are burdens of those who have recovered and have gone back to tame the animals in their families and communities.
Bless the Louis’ that weep their way into the lives of those who have been victimized by attempted annihilation, segregation and penned up on reserves, assimilated and may look like broken two-legged animals.
Riverside Louis is unique and yet so much the definition of the shadow and light of our culture. In my poetry, he is Every Louis. He has lessons to teach us. May you love him, the way I do, for teaching me to look for the WHY.
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his pointer-finger
can dip into the water so he can bless himself, in private.28 lines, 20 comments, on Jun 13 6:52 PM 2006. In Society -
his pointer-finger
can dip into the water so he can bless himself, in private.28 lines, 20 comments, on Jun 13 6:52 PM 2006. In Society -
He simply sits around his own fire,
watching us react to his beauty we have to look deep for.110 lines, 6 comments, on Jul 2 10:15 AM 2006. In Spiritual -
When he was walking through springy moss,
it was easy to sneak up on a rabbit warren,27 lines, 4 comments, on Apr 20 9:22 AM 2007. In Society
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Riverside Louis and his boys
(that would be the boys under the bridge,90 lines, 6 comments, on Aug 20 8:42 PM 2007. In Society -
Some thought Riverside Louis lost on cement earth
But they did not know his tarantella dance -
Awo awo awo awo
Ahow nechimoos, tansi51 lines, 13 comments, on Oct 17 10:24 AM 2007. In Native American -
While others are wondering where their keys are,
what route they are on, -
Louis, like Samuel,, was an exile in a cold land,
kept himself warm with jingle of coins32 lines, 9 comments, on Nov 22 4:32 PM 2007. In Society
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Don’t change horses, brother,
right in the middle of this race55 lines, 10 comments, on Nov 30 11:16 AM 2007. In Society
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Stained-glass church thoughts.9 lines, 9 comments, on Jul 22 6:20 AM 2006. In Contemporary
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Riverside Louis is a willow ~ / not just any tree, but one that weathers well, / standing in sage sun, silver leaves waiting / for drop to
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This man is slow moving stream on a calm day / undemanding but sloshing / down a crooked path next to hurrying highway / headed for anywher40 lines, 5 comments, on May 23 5:11 PM 2007. In Society
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Riverside Louis has no shadow at noon / to crawl before or after him like sundog / following the sun. / His tattered blue jeans, flutter where they’re torn / if breeze is right and light is good, / and he
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Riverside Louis was fluid
34 lines, 14 comments, on Jun 2 9:53 AM 2007. In Society
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Moon’s reflection off a circling jackfish, / scales sending coded messages to the moon, / as she responds to curve caution of soft lisps / in waves wanting to know Riverside Louis / Louis is a pond of muddle, a28 lines, 4 comments, on Jun 6 9:13 PM 2007. In Society
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“See, there was this guy, David Stands On Rock.
He wasn’t my best buddy, but he is now.”61 lines, 13 comments, on Aug 28 6:05 PM 2007
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As a hungry bowl-shaven boy
he took part15 lines, 7 comments, on Nov 21 1:26 PM 2007. In Cultural
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take him down to the channel
and watch the child in a man -
You would not think of desert vision up where permafrost refuses to allow footprints28 lines, 5 comments, on Dec 14 9:46 AM 2007. In Society
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Riverside Louis thinks he is the hatchling of an eggy sun
“Sunnyside up!”, he says, dipping his toast31 lines, 13 comments, on Mar 28 9:57 AM. In spiritual
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