Columbus Day

Painting by Jimmie Durham

In school I learned of heroic discoveries

made by liars and crooks.  The courage

of millions of sweet and true people

was not commemorated.

Let us then declare a holiday

for ourselves, and make a parade that

     begins

with Columbus’ victims and continues

even to our grandchildren who will be

    named in their honor.

Because isn’t it true that even the summer

grass here in this land whispers those

     names.

And every creek has accepted the responsibility

of singing those names?  And nothing can

     Stop

the wind from howling those names

     around

the corners of the school.

Why else would the birds sing

so much sweeter here than in other lands?

Jimmie Durham, “Columbus Day” in Sojourners, October 1991, 12 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmie_Durham