the way and the way things are by nila northSun

the way and the way things are

by nila northSun

gramma thinks about her grandchildren

they’re losing the ways

don’t know how to talk indian

don’t understand me when

i ask for tobacco

don’t know how to skin a rabbit

sad sad

they’re losing the ways

but gramma

you told your daughters

marry white men

told them they would have

nicer houses

fancy cars

pretty clothes

could live in the city

gramma your daughters did

they couldn’t speak indian anymore

how could we grandchildren learn

ther...