showed the Utes the way to hold
the soldiers inside the pits
they had dug when caught in the open --
hold them there breathing the stench
of their own dead horses,
and no water, tasting their own sweat
in the glare of the hot sand-fl at.
Colorow used to come in for some trading,
And I'd ask him to dinner, being afraid
If I didn't he might take our scalps. One time
He came with fi ve squaws, and they ate and ate.
Colorow'd take a spoonful of soup, and spit.
Spit alongside the table, a villainous thing,
But I durst not say a word. When they were fi nished
Colorow mumbled something in Indian
And one of the squaws gave a buckskin to my wife.
She hardly knew what it was or what to do with it.
I was in the offi
Blocked out the light and darkened the whole front.
He stood there holding his stomach with both hands.
I was a little afraid, about the dinner.
He said, `Heap sick.' I said, `Been drinking whiskey?'
`No, eat too much. Want doctor.' -- `Doctor's gone,'
I told him. He said, `You give me medicine.'
Now I was kind of scared. I did not know
But what he would go for me. I thought the best
I could do would be to give him some Epsom salts.
I knew it wouldn't kill him. I got a cup
And fi lled it, nearly, and he had a hard time
To get it down, and had to take a great deal