[Mark McDonnell]

Hi Jennifer,

I have no issues one way or the other with how you or anyone else self-indentifies. But having read the original article that prompted this discussion, and the supposedly 'damning' articles it links to (the Cherokee women demanding audience with Warren, whom she 'dodged' while campaigning etc) it does seem another tragic example of the left eating itself and doing Trump's job for him. In other words, kind of what James said back in post #13.

[Michael Cantor]

What Mark and James said. Particularly what James said. We have an accidental President who is a liar, an ignoramus, a bigot - and he is putting as many of his colleagues into key positions as possible, in order to do the most harm possible to what has been painfully accomplished over many years, while enriching himself, his family, and his buddies. I don't really care about Elizabeth Warren's bloodlines. I worry about this nation.

[Jennifer Reeser]

It is certainly curious, isn't it, the appearance at that particular site? I blinked several times, then double-checked to see that I had the right blog...

For anyone interested, here is the official video news statement made by Principal Chief Baker himself -- essentially saying that Warren never claimed to be a member of the Cherokee Nation, and leaving it at that:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCLHNYC6piY

[Jennifer Reeser]

Begging everyone's indulgence -- but last night, I received an email from Alex, who let me know when "INDIGENOUS," my forthcoming book from Able Muse Press, will be published.

It led me to go back to re-read my manuscript, and I was reminded of this poem in the book, which I wrote years ago, putting into poetry this exact parallel, and was trying to explain to Ann, further up in the thread -- of being both one hundred percent Indian, while one hundred percent white.

The book is about my childhood, growing up raised by my Native American Indian maternal-grandfather's family, our family lore, as well as including poems regarding -- on the other side of my Native heritage -- my father's contributions to my life from an Indian perspective etc., etc. Poems about experiences with my Indian friends, growing up. Poems about Oklahoma, Indian country. My experience, being in a "mixed marriage" with my husband.

Several poems, indeed, confront the reality of being not only mixed-blood, bi-racial, but a combination of two groups who existed in deadly warfare with each other, deadly enemies. What it is like to inherit such baggage.

I don't normally do things like this, but since it pertains directly to a question which was specifically posed to me, and also, involves Alex and the press, intertwined with poetry, it seems okay to do this.

Half-breed
by Jennifer Reeser

Both sides accepted me, both sides denied.
Each side has told me truth, while each has lied.

Unite two liquids in a cup of clay,
their properties do not congeal and stay.

No more is it half-water and half-wine,
but each absorbs the other, to combine.

Its drops are wine and water, through and through,
but yet dissimilar, completely new.

My blood -- all-Indian while still all white--
mixes and balances, a dual birthright.

I am your bridge. I am, as well, your breach.
Hear me, and heal -- I'm none of you, and each.

[Susan McLean]

Lovely poem, Jennifer.

Susan

[James Brancheau]

Never mind...

[Jennifer Reeser]

Thank you, Susan, James. Be well.

Jennifer

[John Isbell]

Hi Jennifer,

I like it, especially the last couplet, which is a bit Metaphysical to my ear. How things relate.

Cheers,
John

[Michael Cantor]

Since you're begging everybody's indulgence to post your own poetry on this site, Jennifer, let me request that you indulge me by providing a straight answer to the question Quincy raised in Post #18, rather than avoiding it; and to the questions Ann raised in #35 and #37.

[Jennifer Reeser]

Hi, Michael.

1. No
2. I did.

John, doubtless all the Donna! Thank you, sir.