they asked
the innocence
of youth the seed
has been sown.
why do this project
i answered
soon you will see
this is real
they asked
why is this water important
i answered
many wells have dried up
wells used by the People
plants have disappeared
those used for medicines
they asked
what happened to the water
i told them
it disappeared in the pipeline
the one used to slurry the coal
they asked
but won't the water come back
i told them
no
they asked
what is this coal used for
i told them
to light the lights of los angeles
to run the air conditioners of phoenix
to light the neon lights of las vegas
cheap energy
dirty energy
destroying the land
and its People
they asked
why isn't this is the news
i told them
because the media says
they are only indigenous
they are resisters
they do not matter
again they asked
but why haven't i read about this in the news
and i answered
this follows what has happened in history
any minerals found on indigenous lands
lands once thought to be useless
the government sees fit to take away
no matter the cost for those who live there
never thinking twice about what it does
to the People, to the land
it is the government's best kept secret
they asked
how do you know these things
i answered
because i am connected
and so are you
they asked
what are we supposed to do
i told them
learn the effects
of Peabody Energy
on Black Mesa
they asked
what do we look for
i answered
read closely,
see the effects
on the Dine',
on the traditional Hopi,
on the land
they asked
what can we do to help
i told them
prayer
i watched their expressions
very seriously researching
some going beyond what was asked
and i smiled
knowing they will
continue to watch,
knowing they realize
this is more than
a simple project
they asked many questions
and i answered.
the wolf is my messenger