Alena
Deewater

Ann
Helsel

Charles
Furey

Donald
Shephard

Doug
Fortier

Gloria
Jorgensen

Henri
Bensussen

Holly
Tannen

Jan
Edwards

Jewels
Marcus

Maureen
Eppstein

Motherbear
Scott

Nancy
McLelland

Nona
Smith

Norma
Watkins

Sharon
Gilligan

Susan
Fisher

Ty
Moore

A l e n a  D e e r w a t e r   &  P a t  T o t h - S m i t h

Humpbacks of the 
Western Plains 

“Give me a home,”
The Old Buffalo croaned (part croon, part groan).
“Where the Deer and the Antelope pray.”

She stomped her feet, 
Cracking icy shards beneath her hooves, 
And let out a steamy sigh.
“Where did he get to, my love?”

She circled the herd of kin, 
Humming her way through fur, horns, 
And swishing skinny tails.

“Where seldom is heard a disparaging word,
And the skies are not smoggy all day –”

She spotted him. Off on his own,
Staring across a patch of plain 
At a Human.

“Jesus Christ,” She cussed under her breath.

The Human squinted through a box on a tripod
With a thick telescoping lens.

Head down, the Old Buffalo trotted over to her mate.

“Do you think that Woman is here to help us?” 
He spoke without shifting his gaze from the bundled figure.

“Dear, dear, dear. I know Humans can hurt us. But how can they possibly help?”

He looked down at the ground. 
Snow dusted his tangled beard-fur,
Clung between his eyes.

She rested her brow against his. They breathed together for a time.

“This Human reminds me of the Old Ones,” he said. 
“The Old Ones who told stories. Our stories. 
The Old Ones who accepted with gratitude our fur for warmth, 
Our bodies for sustenance, our teachings of prayer and abundance. 
The Old Ones who knew love. I miss them.”

The Human pushed a button on her box. The metallic click, 
Carried by the wind, resonated in Buffalo ears.

Buffalo Buddies