Wednesday, 20th May Chief Beardy visited camp today and swore eternal peace with the whites, which was the immediate result I suppose of the victory at Batoche.
He was hard
to read, his eyes
gave away nothing. He is
rumoured
to be bold and fierce,
his name from the scattered
grey beard on his chin.
From the frightened way he spoke
it appeared there was little enough
of a man, within.
Eternal peace, easier
to swear
alive
than dead.
They crouched next to the tent
- one private joked they were
waiting
to be fed.
***
Beardy and Okemasis
went to Middleton today.
The Redcoat General
Said had they not come, he would have
Burnt their reserves away:
as it was, he shamed
and scolded them
like an old woman.
Forbade our peoples any gifts of food or meat,
Tea, flour, or the stores promised in times of
Famine and pestilence. We hunkered down on the ground
at their feet.
I acted as interpreter, hard
to walk between these two worlds. Words
and meanings, slippery devils. Like catching
fish from a river with one hand.
They stared and joked
among themselves. Looked
down upon us.
Okemasis said he was trying only
to make a living for his wife and children.
Beardy said his men were frightened for
their lives and he prayed them to keep still:
towards the whites, he wished no man ill.
The clergymen with us
pled for stores for our little ones,
our wives and Elders. Middleton
said Beardy was lucky not to be hung
by his thumbs.
Beardy
Pledged
Eternal peace and left
Empty-handed.
Threatened loss of leadership and land, then stripped
Of his medals - as
The General
Demanded.
1 comment:
This is strong. The gulf between the two worlds really comes through here. Liked the line about catching a fish with one hand.
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