I Was Afraid Of Indians

 I was afraid of Indians

I had a recurring dream

they were parading down my street

and the rule was

white people were not to look at them

they would pass by in the night

so long as we kept our gaze turned away

but I 

could not

resist

the colors, the beads, the flowers

the beautiful men and women

with dark skin, and long black hair

I'd carefully lift the curtains in my dark bedroom

I'd watch the parade

until one tall Indian man

suddenly turned his head

and looked directly into my eyes

I dropped the curtain

and hid beneath my bed

so afraid of what was coming

I'd wake up

in that same bed

next to that same window

scared and guilty

the street now empty and quiet

An abandoned and neglected Indian graveyard

by my house

was abused by kids from my neighborhood

I never participated

in kicking over

or otherwise vandalizing a grave stone

but I did climb the fence

and I walked on that ground

that I was not meant to walk on

the guilt of my actions

and the actions of the other white children

turned beautiful dreams

into terrifying nightmares