by Tyler G. Freitas (Featured in Dewplicitous)
Inspired by Robert McNally’s Cast Out of Eden
In the mid-nineteenth century, in the mountains
surrounding Yosemite, a detachment of US Army
forces encircled a Native American tribe before
the crack of dawn. The unsuspecting tribesmen
were stoking a fire to warm their acorn porridge;
the children were chasing each other in circles;
mothers and grandparents were weaving baskets
and spinning plant fibers for nets – and as the sun
pierced the horizon in the east, a soldier signaled –
releasing a volley of rifle bullets at the unsuspecting
villagers – tearing holes in their homes and hearts;
filling grandparents’ heads with burning lead;
then charging the scrambling campers with pistols
and raised bayonets – killing the men with impunity –
raping the women who were not able to flee –
leaving crying children clinging to their dead siblings.
