Reflection from a Reservation

This is a poem-ey piece that I wrote on a recent mission trip to the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation that appears to be becoming a sensation (I minutely question why) in my little micro-community.

It is intended to be read down normally, and then read from the bottom to the top, LINE BY LINE, not word by word.
Reading it down normally illustrates the realities of this reservation currently. Reading it from the bottom to the top is my hope for this reservation in the future.
Some statistics:

• Out of every dollar that a resident of the reservation makes, only about 1 cent stays on the reservation. The rest goes to stores, Walmarts and etc outside of the reservation.
• The census reported somewhere around 60% employment (I believe) but in reality about 85% of the people on the reservation are unemployed.

I have a bleak future. I am a miracle

because I have some hope. Don't tell me that

I am sure to go to college. I am normal

when I think that I will be drunk. I know

that my heritage is starving away. I am crazy

to not have hatred. It would be a lie to say

trash isn't destroying our land. Our children learn

of fear and sadness. Of course

we don't dream. We are deprived

of the means to help ourselves. You're ignorant when you say

our dogs are well fed, loved, and taken care of. We are all aware

children are raising other children. Every one of

this community knows of despair. No

one is helping us. It is not true that

we know that some

Hope is here.

This community will be turned around

because I held firm to my hope.

Copyright 2011 Abigail Chapman