thick indigenous women
are spilled beads and tangled thread
complicated but worth the effort
we are curves spilling stories
against your lips
our thighs are soft muskeg
protecting good medicines
our skin soft as tanned hide
touch us with consent
and you are touching
our ancestor’s wildest dreams
thick indigenous women
are the feast during a long hard winter
canned raspberries fresh bannock
warm butter dripping between your fingers
come and eat
we hold joy in every round shoulder
laugh loudly drawing all eyes
we squeeze against you
and you hold us tight
smiling at your blessings
thick indigenous women
are magic and if you aren’t careful
someone else will pick up spilled beads
and untangle threads
Tenille Campbell is a Dene/Métis author and photographer from English River First Nation, Saskatchewan. She is the author of the poetry book #IndianLovePoems.
