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It was like a fall day
In Maine
Crisp, and crystal clear
Liquid light
Pouring into me
Monumental
Mental messages
Of understanding
It was like Leonard Cohen
Saying, “Pass me a pen,
I want to write something down.”
It was that profound
The understanding
I am North American
Yes, we say no
To the boarder
Dotted lines separating
Pushing us up and over
Distance and time
I am North American
No more an angry Indian
I am content
In my disgust
I like, that you don’t trust me
And think I have everything
It makes me try, harder
Not to barter my way
Through
So to begin
I’ll win this
North American Idol of Poetry
Filing acts of civil disobedience
Cleaning up the mess
No more talk
This is my roadblock
These are my lines
This is my line
Cross it
Just try
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Come over to my side
Just try
Befriend me, be an ally
Look through my glasses
Walk in my shoes
Eat at my table
One day, just one day
Just try
You can see who I am
On the status card
That took six years to get
And the passport
I have to renew yet
And still the questions come
“Where are you from?”
“What is your citizen –ship”?
I’ll tell you my
citizen-ship
If you tell me the name of the ship
Your people arrived on…
I think this,
And they let me go on….
I am North American
Not to be confused with Canadian
The beverage
I haven’t drank in 12 years
Tell that to the beer
Company pimping its country
In the name of sales
Wait a minute,
I’m not quite done
It’s all in fun
So if I’ve offended you
Relax
This is not an attack
On you
I’m just spilling my truth
Living proof
That a Mohawk Goddess Warrior
Poet, still screams
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Like Pauline
Home-girl pioneer
Hip-hop scotching
a rhythmic trail
From Missouri to Alaska
From Victoria to Boston
And beyond
She claimed this land
Her literary playground
And I intend to do the same
Without blame, pointing fingers
And instilling guilt
That’s not what my power
Is built on…
my name may get bigger
and I’d still be the nigger
Of this land
Now do you understand how it works
I am home
I am home south of the boarder
And south of that boarder
Everywhere is home
Everyplace is sacred
Indigenous land
The minute you think you own it
That’s when you’ve blown it
People as old as the trees
Can be found
Standing their ground
It’s a package deal
I am the North American messenger
And gladly pay the price
To bring these words
To you
Cuz you can’t sue
Someone who has nothing
To loose
Go ahead - Just Try
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