S.C. Flynn

Araucania, Chile, 1800 AD

This is no job for the young, Melipal;

only old women like me will go on

using one dream to explain another

in this language twisted like dry tree roots.

Your five lights have watched us fight the Incas

and live and trade with the Spanish

and you know I’ve fought the evil spirits

as well as any kulku of the Mapuche.

But we both see the invasion coming

and the end of all the old ways;

then even the dreams won’t make sense.

Published in Ink, Sweat & Tears