ATDOAPTI Poems

JUNIOR

I am from old suits, from a family filled with addiction.

I am from the poverty, and disorder.

I am from ceremonies and the Spokane Tribe, from Mary and Grandmother Spirit and Arnold Spirit Sr.

I am from the people who never prosper and stay isolated.

From being thankful that they weren’t killed on thanksgiving.

I'm from the Spokane Indian Reservation, from alcohol and pancakes.

From the brain issues, the secret novel writing, and the drinking addiction.

I am from leaving the reservation, from spreading my wings.

• Junior is a Spokane Indian who has left the reservation trying to follow his dreams.
• He is leader because he is showing the other Indians on the reservation that they can leave.

JUNIOR’S SISTER

I am from books, from isolation.

I am from the desolate reservation.

I am from the grassy fields of Montana.

I am from writing romance novels and drinking, from Arnold and Junior and Agnes.

I am from dreams being crushed and stale living.

From being never able to release my novels to leaving the reservation.

I'm from the Spokane Reservation, the booze, the caring and understanding of Grandma.

From the doodling, the novel writing, and the braveness of facing the outside world.

I am from exploring the unknown, from running off to live my life how I dreamed of.

• Junior's Sister was a Spokane Indian that liked to write romance novels but decided that her dreams of being a writer were impossible so she wasted away in her basement
• Junior's Sister is a leader because she followed her dreams and her writing to Montana where it sadly killed her. This shows to everyone else that living your dreams is possible