Cultural Anthropology

If you laid out
upon a table
all the things
you think I need
as an Indian

(bow, arrows, whiskey,
direct psychic hotline to the trees,
etc.
etc.)

I’d be at a loss

as to what I should do
except

I could handle the knife pretty well
because my dad taught me all about that

He learned how
from a drill sergeant
in the US Army
(who I’m pretty sure
wasn’t Indian)

once again
I find that I conform
to a stereotype
someone else created

that sick feeling’s knocking
at me again

every time I touch the knife
it starts singing

shave and a haircut

waiting on me to come back with  

two bits