Mourning For a Sister Lost

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Navajo for "Older Sister"

This goes out to every woman who has lost another woman to the hands of cruel men
Navajo, or no. I, an outsider to the Navajo community, was raised in Arizona and befriended this wonderful young lady. I could only watch this beautiful young girl who was kept away from the rest of her people by her abusive father to include him keeping her from female family members, become a product of her hellish environment. I can't help but feel I have failed her somehow. I tried suggesting she moved away from the men who had threatened and beat her and move near my area, not too far away yet... A man had other plans for her. Sister, this is for you

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Born outside your tribe
you never learned the Sacred Strength
of the Woman

I watched you stumble and fall
to your hands and knees
at the drunken hand of your father
I watched you reach
your bleeding hands out for me
your eyes begging, your tongue reserved
for they kept it on a leash

How many men brought you to tears, my friend?

I saw the confusion of your worth
when you started posting
sexual images of your body
 because men thought
you looked too boyish
but couldn't see the beauty
in your hair kept long to your hips
unbraided, untamed
and black as the crow

and my heart breaks at your latest post...

"Hey all you single guys…. If you check out the women in Ukraine….. most of them are looking to leave right now.
#mailorderbride"

Sister.... why?

You have never been held
by another woman
and..

I am so sorry