. . . the succession of curious adventures wore the
impression on my mind of enchantment.
—Meriwether Lewis, June 14th, 1805
One day I separated from the rest a the party to follow
a group a buffalo that seem to call my name
an this angry low cloud swoop down over the river the way
that lion swoop down on the monkey’s back in that story
a Ol’ York’s, only this lion is big an black like me
full a thunder an lightning, an throwing down iceballs
as big as my fist, so I whistles sharp an loud, gets low an
strokes the shells on the hunting shirt she gimme,
an it fly right over.
Before I can reflect on how lucky I be, it come to me that
Charbono’s squaw an her lil’ warrior, Jean Baptiste
is now right b’neath that lion’s claws, so I stampedes back
for the rescue an finds they barely escapes a surprise flood
that washed away Capt. Clark’s compass an Charbono’s gun.
I think no more about it ’til I hear that before the cloud
swoop in a bear chased Capt. Lewis full out
the length ova cornfield.
Made him jump in the river to get away.
When he climb out the bear turn into a tyger cat
then into three big bull buffalo
that charge him and chase him away.
Only then do I begins to understand her power.