Ishi

a step is like the shadow they left

behind

when too many came and saw the last

cloud

over the California morning

a night of sorts,

a night before the gloaming,

a silent evening with only

one voice

because a voice alone is something

like silence

something

like the top key on a piano

{titter away into darkness}

there’s only one dawn left on Yahi

there’s really nothing here at all,

only a handful of words and maybe

one broken request

to please leave my bones

where my past lies