May 1, 2019
— Pokni’s Pecan Tree —
definition: appokni, apokni, n., my grandmother.
shading me from the heat during the easter’s of my childhood
oh how defiant you stood
toes in the grass as pokni braided and educated me all that she could
i learned what it meant to be choctaw under this wood
how you survived all the disasters i never understood
she provided you with strength, now who would ?
once the eggs are hunted and the last slice of pecan pie gone, i realize i have transcended girlhood
princess of our tribe and an environmental activist it all began in this neighborhood
pokni taught me how sacred our beautiful earth is and as i stand under this tree i know everything is good
