Three Chiefs of Piegan

Three chiefs of Piegan gather to survey their land
Ask forgiveness from the sun
Lament the memories of buffalo hunted, haunted
Troubled over disease, starvation, war
The beauty of the plains is not lost on them
They sit tall on their horses, proud
Look west in weariness
Consider the chiefs before them
Those next in line
The changing world, confusing
Difficult decisions to make
The three chiefs of Piegan push the inevitable
Bellow against it
Raise their profile to the wind
Hair braided in history
Uncertain for their tribe
Such responsibility
For now, they fall still for the photographer
Time will wait for a moment
Then the world will reinvent itself and them, in turn

© Poem Fix http://www.poemfix.com 2012
Image: Edward S. Curtis