Into the Forest and all the Way Through

by Cynthia Pelayo

what is happening with our Missing and murdered Indigenous Women, from the lakes and rivers Of Alaska to the plains of Oklahoma A crisis for our women, 145 in OK Alone, when this many women go Missing in such a place, someone Knows something, there are whispers And looks, nods of knowing, so tell Me, what happened to her? Shorty Last seen on a gravel driveway outside Of her own home. A pastor once told Her to throw her ballerina flats into the Fire, told her to not dress like a woman But she is a woman, she is our woman She is a missing woman, who was stared At by her classmates with disdain, sobbed When that man of god forced her To throw away her shoes, but after that Moment of hurt, she was always known To smile, we smile now, and channel Your energy, for the greatest pain is Knowing the attention they deserve has Too been lost