A horse can feel a human heartbeat
four feet away through the ground.
Just as both of our hearts are
grounded like a horse’s hooves, we
can feel each other’s heartbeat
together — no matter how far apart
we are.
Horse’s Heartbeat, William J. Schwartzer
Last Saturday, the Lakota Oyate-ki club hosted Native Heritage Day where we feasted and then played round after round of Stick Game, a traditional team-based guessing game. Two players hide a marked bone and a plain bone in each of their hands. A person on the opposite side points the stick in one of four directions to indicate the correction combination of marked hidden bones. Four hands. Four combinations. There is the possibility of finding one bone, two bones, or coming up empty. We sat on bleachers opposite one another, led in song by the front row who held us in synch with hand drums. Matt Reyes’s grandma confidently pointed the stick and found both bones and we won a stick. It was easy to be swept into the swirl of belonging. This game was inclusive, if you didn’t know the song you were taught, any age could play, all were welcome to join a team, and play moved around the group giving many people opportunities to hide or pick. The drum synchronizes our heartbeats and we draw together.
Le’Var Howard writes about the deep and lasting connection he has made through purpose and shared values and inspired by a person he recently met who is dedicated to social justice and reform. Le’Var has been institutionalized most of his life, and so meeting Skyflower has brought new joy into his world:
Her primary focus is to keep young teens, adolescence, out of the juvenile system. I find relief in her efforts. When I look into her brown eyes I see all things as possible. Even for myself. She made me question myself, what good works could I do? What sacrifices should I make and on whose behalf? Am I exhibiting my power correctly?
Of Family Friendships Melissa Black writes, “We have no control over our genealogical lineage. Regardless, we have personal choice as individuals to pick the people we want to enjoy and have in our space and lives. It is sacred and personal to know who we would want beside us on our deathbed. On the lighter side, we choose our company “family” to celebrate and give thanks to the world we create.” Ray’eena Giles concurs in Family Choices: Family’s what you make it, sometimes made of mud…
With Familiar Jai draws the cycle of human relationships that fade like the seasons. Rather than disappear entirely, we are changed by them and come into the next with the possibility of renewal:
We learn to relate to the newness that's afforded
Making fealties anew that are easily treasured
A familiar in need of a kind heart is treasured
Past all bias a helping hand is vouchsafed true
In defiance of cruel time we reach out anew.
The spirit of the stick game, engagement shared values, cultivating acceptance — all of these things are building blocks for our writing groups. We are operating within a closed and oppressive system and so we listen closely to one another’s stories and we ground our heartbeats. | TDS