The Native Thing

there was a time and place
where priests of Catholic bent,
from France, would try
to baptise Native kids,
although of course the Native heart
rebelled and called it blasphemy,
just in their Native tongue.

the priests would then seek other forms
of ritual and with a wet sponge up
their sleeves
would glisten baby heads
and mumble rosary.

a wicked thing, perhaps,
to deny a tribe their tribal rights.

but in their hearts, the priests,
there a was Native thing as well:
the flame of love -
the need to lift a child heart