Deep in the forest
in the cold of winter
in a crude cabin
lives a mountain man.
He has worked a trap line
since September
He is tanning hides
in the same room where he sleeps,
using techniques learned from his
Dakota and Absoroka neighbors
who he is in competition with
to try to set the best price at rendezvous
which happens in the late spring
where fur traders and indians both
go to trade their wares
as they have done for many generations.
there are games, stories, and whiskey
all being shared freely.
several men challenge each other
to see who is the best tomahawk thrower.
men hone their musket skills
they will need them for the fall.
children do their chores without complaint
and retire to vigorous play.
they learn the skills of their elders
and keep them close to heart.
women share their work together
cooking, gathering wood, mending skins
today is a special day
it is the wedding of Tinpot Jack and Dirty Hands
everyone wears their finest buckskins
and brings handmade gifts.
the year is 2007
the place is Red Lodge Montana
A contest entry
- Metis and Acadian - “We were, we are and will be there for ever.”-for Native American Heritage Month by CarolDesjarlais.
775 points, ended December 1, 2007, 3 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
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Oh man.....what a great contempory poem...your honor, yes... the only thing that distracted was the capitalizationa nd punctuation discrepancies... but that does not take from the spirit of the poem. Ty for your entry and honor.
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this is an actual way of life. there are people who still do this, in fact, I was one of them until my knees went bad. I still try to make it to rendezvous every summer, but now instead of hides, i trade art.
even us washitus (white men in Dakota, or, if you prefer Blackfeet-Napiquana) want to keep the old ways alive.
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