The Horses Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

The horses

They repeat when speak:
"Neither have and nor will! "

They are wrong…
I claim and bet it on my life.

Though Europe, Europeans
Are involved and have been,
Horses caused the changing.

Ojibwa and Cree
Cherokee, Blackfoot,
Entire Indigenous
Fell in love with horses,
Bought, stole, trained them
Far better than Europe…

With horses came changes
To past ways and cultures
That died to remain dead…

Speed changed the hunting
And packing, unpacking
Of every belonging;
Tepees, wives and babies.

So, blame the horses
For success and failure
Of Europe, Europeans
And many love affairs.

Which hero, Indigenous
Did not use the horses?

On horseback came friends
And news of loss, gain
When returned warriors
That headed for rivers
To check on cute girls,
Some of them fast lovers;
So, horses must be cursed.