Negative Shade

Out of the darkness you are strokes of light A true masterpiece of visual delight Like you your creator is forever penned As I look at you I miss my friend Your heritage is clear an Indian at birth A true respecter of Mother Earth Your Headdress adorned by Buffalo Horns Saddened eyes reflect how your people were scorned Your face a true reflection of time Your necklace is of simplistic design Through this art there is no way to hide You were a people of deep eternal pride Written For Brian Strand’s “Ekphrasis” Poetry Contest. Inspired by one of my Indian Brothers Negative Shade Drawing of an Indian Chief that I brought home from Prison. In Prison you meet very many talented artist I consider the two drawings I brought home of his to be two very prized pieces. For insurance purposes I had each piece appraised and they are said to be worth around $500.00 apiece. I paid 5 Top Raman Soups, a can of Chile Beans and two poems for them both. As far as I know I was the only one allowed to bring his artwork outside. Being a lifer he only dealt with other lifers, me being the single exception because I used to write poetry for his wife and children.