Copyright © 1999 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

      Here O Painter take this painting back
      and put a DIA shack in place of that tipi
      make the land around res bare
      (By the way, those clouds in the background
      look like smoke billowing from a pulp mill....)

      The woman in the corner
              who is 18 and a mom of two..
              its okay if you'll put a wedding dress on her
              and give her kids a father
              (it looks so "mainstream," isn't it?)
              but
              don't forget her black eye
              and those
              broken friendship bracelets on her wrist
              that I have become so used to seeing.
              And can you make my nephew a FAS  child?

      That smile on my niece's lips is really cute
              broaden it enough to
              make your painting giggle!
      Ah the darkness around her
              the shadows creeping
              and vociferously slurping her childhood..

      Darkness
              whispers
              tip toes
              treaties
              caresses
              smacks
      The dreaded beast
      I wish I can shoot the bastard
      Darkness.....

      The guy in torn blue jeans is my Dad
              stuff in his pocket
              a SA cheque and
              five Loonies he received as Treaty payment...
              Put a Stetson and a toothless grin on him
      He is our proud Res Rodeo King...

      My mom, tanning moosehide
      Put a Green Peace button on her torn lapel!
      Be sure to show rosary around her neck.
      Fill some fear of god and fear of dad in her eyes...

      And in the backyard of my mind
              and the yard of my shack
      park some rusted old cars
              delicious dreams
      That I've so painstakingly amassed
              (the three in the far corner were bought by dad)
      Like my father I too am hoping...
      That one day
      I'll ease collective idleness of these rusted cars!
              I'll Put one of them together
              Paint a number on its hood and sides
              Cash my SA cheque at Montana's eatery
      and Enter a Demolition Derby................


                                           Zahid Makhdoom
                                   (October 19, 1989 @Moberley Lake)


                          *** *** *** *** ***
 
       Peace and Love

       Zahid Makhdoom
       email     :  zmakdoom@kootenay.awinc.com
       phone work:  (604) 489-2464
             home:  (604) 489-5476 voice/fax
             cell:  (604) 489-8981
              fax:  (604) 489-5760

      "self-determination is a primary human right...subjugation of 
        people in the hands of other people is an act of war crime..."