For a long time I felt 
Guilty about the desire 
To be alone. 
My mother's mantra of grandchildren 
Like generations of elders with 
Paper thin skin steering my hips 
Toward the human race. 
Single, in nature, 

Is a thing at which we would point 
In awe. Snap photos, or touch someone 
On the shoulder and breathe, 
Look, isn't it stunning. 

One red wildflower in spring runoff. 
One naked maple in a mown field. 
Spotted Elk dead in the snow. 

When Europeans first came to this continent 
They took the Indians' land. 
Founding fathers. Jefferson, Jackson 
Said if they didn't know how to own it 
If they didn't cultivate it with cotton 
Or tobacco but only hunted and fished, 
Didn't work but only lived, 
If they lived 
They didn't deserve to have it. 

Every night now I wake up 
And my hands tucked under my pillow 
Are numb. 

Nishike 

By: Rebecca Pelky 

The 2011 Analecta Page 82 

The dust swirled 
lah thundered through t 
The leather seat itself wa 
ravishing young girl in t 
time they met. They wer 
with him. After that day 

It seemed like th 
see new places and didn' 
to stay in one place for n 

She looked over : 
wind, were ravens escap 
mouth. 

'Tm glad we dee 
"Me too! I've ne' 
"It's especially ni 

mous grin encompassed 
The sign on the ~ 

posted at 70 miles per h• 
dio; turning the dial and 
ing for some good 'ole R 
out of the speakers. 

"Oh wait, I like t 
"Ha, you would! 
"So where are W( 

"Well, there's a h 
churches you see in old · 
I know who stays there ; 

"Oh, okay" she p 
and laughed like a kid a1 

"You're right, I'rr 
Ahead of them a 

any heed as they blew p• 
the armadillo that tucke 

"Hey, don't forgE 
you;' he said. 

"Yeah, she's prett 
"She just cares; c 
He reached in hi 

between his lips, he was 
lighter, he turned to loo 
end of the stick. 

"Thanks babe;' l: