The
Children of Étienne Brûlé
Empire
wrought the end, it was written; in the beginning God's missals and
Muskets
were sent up river. Goods and liquor exchanged for furs and lessons
On
geography. Illiterate as a fish yet fluent in tongues it was Brûlé carried the
mail
Ignorant
of its meaning; the impotent man of action unable to trust the translator
The
first post-modernist of the wood, avant-guardian of the word
Dubbed
vicious by religious hypocrites he was doubtless in Atheism
Afflicted
with women Brûlé scattered the forest with children while the Jesuits (ahem)
Left
none. A lawless man without Nation his likeness spread thru generations
Do
Étienne's wounds yet bleed in the hearts of
citizens? Betray begets
Betrayal.
Assassination in the Pays d'en Haut: from Trader to
Traitor
to torture. A garland of axe-heads for
his heirs, and now a Polis near ruin.
The Death of Tecumseh
(An erasure of Charles Mair's “Tecumseh: A
Drama.”)
Wash my side. Tease my grave stretching to the
sea.
Beware persuasion, and charms by night. Ho!
Perfidious purpose. A crab has more love.
Shelter the witness of falsehood.
Restore stumbled profusion. Tradition
Is the past being born. Break their clocks
Heave them out to sea. This is the end of
northward.
Visit a deeper awe. Answer the earth
Break a people's fate, purpose yourselves
Howl! My tongue flags. I perceive the night's
creeping.
Revenge is sick. It withers your heart.
Go into tomorrow's sun. Abhor the sword.
Do not despair. Rejoice, Be skilful. Strike
Kemeny Babineau lives in Stratford where he works as a cook and bookseller. He has previous works with Angel House Press, above/ground press, Book*hug nee Thug, Laurel Reed Books, and others.
