Best Manito Poems
A friend once told me
How he was fascinated by me-
By how I could walk up to absolutely
Anyone and be their best friend,
Switch cultures like t-shirts
Emblazoned with "I heart
Fill-in-the-blank..."
I'm not sure quite how to explain
How once you've observed society
For long enough you realize
That just about everyone you
Will ever meet acts just like
Your own teenage brother,
Like your mother, your father,
Like your little sister-
Like the best friend you've
Known for your whole life...
Everyone has heard the phrase,
"We're all God's children,"
But it seems like everyone
Is suddenly blind to their
Family resemblence
When one of them says,
"Que tal, manito?" instead of
"What's up, bro?"
Don't tell me that it's
Not possible for you
To communicate with
Someone whose birth certificate
Lists a country of origin
That's different from your own-
Don't say you can't pick up
New language when "YOLO"
Was not an expression that
Existed on the face of the Earth
Until a couple of years ago...
Besides, we both know how you
Always found a way to
Gossip in class, by shooting hand
Gestures and loaded glances
Halfway across the classroom-
Halfway across a globe never
Seemed all that different to me,
So maybe that's the reason
I was never fazed
By a language barrier.
Kiji Manito, winter is coming on and the days have grown shorter
Let me not complain
Let me see the beauty of winter and longer nights
I have a roof over my head, heat to warm my body, and food to nourish me Many do not have any of those things
I have no right to complain
Grandfather, I grow older and my youth is behind me now
Let me not complain
About aches and pains nor wrinkles or grey hair
With age comes maturity and wisdom, it is well with me
Many have greater aches and pains than I
I have no right to complain
Creator my Elders are no longer living
Let me not complain
Let me recall the wisdom that they added to life's journey
With gratitude that keeps us connected
Many were denied the chance to have such life teachers
I have no right to complain
Great Spirit, I have few possessions and no money so to speak of
Let me not complain
Let me enjoy the freedoms and simplicity
Of being unattached to objects of materialism
Many have only possessions to keep them company
I have no right to complain
May you only hear from me gratitude
This day and all days forward
I have breath in my lungs and purposes in my promise
I am humbly blessed beyond measure
I have no complaints