58
expelling the old chief
his adoptive father, when the old man would not
deal with the Whites --
what are these but tesserae in his mosaic
integrity
whom it suited Ute and White to call corrupt.
He had for company
Chipeta and his own accurate thinking.
In group photographs
it's always Ouray that sits, hands on knees, front and center,
fully there, solid,
alert, his gaze direct and ready to meet
with full attention
the attention of anyone looking at him here
as of -- right now:
it is an expression that doesn't yield anything.