American Thanksgiving

Painted faces and open eyes gaze at the setting sun

Watching as their future fades into the ocean.

Children laugh and play

Tickling mother with their toes.

The elders can only stare 

Everything will change.

Raven had told them so at dawn a decade before 

Of the white man and the death he would bring.

Shaken, the elders had met and prayed. 

They chose to prepare for death by living.

And now the day was here

Ships dotting the horizon rose as their hearts sank.

They gave thanks at that moment. 

For Mother and all her children

Including those ships full of bullets and fear.