I am Tapestry.

                         Help me remember.









​

       Here, my memory frays.

                                  Some of what I see

                        may not be truth.

                            





​
​


I see men,

          seeking to expand their lands.

     More territory

                     for these United States.

     “This is for our future,”
​                                        they say.
             They pass laws
         to keep Native tribes away.
    Sent on a “journey” of “relocation.”
      There is much sadness. A trail of tears. “But for the good of all,” the men say.
    I see Native children with their friends.
          Living in “boarding schools.”
   Reading. Learning English and religion.
     To teach them
​            “civilized” culture.
          The ways of
​              “American” society.
    To thrive in
          “the new world.” 
​
                                          . . .

                                                 Wait.     
                                                      No.         
 
                                                          STOP.


​

​
                     My threads
                              of memory
​                            are broken.

               That is NOT what happened.

         Some of my words
                                       are WRONG.
           
                    We must listen
                         to those who lived this.
                              Those who were harmed.

 
​

​
​  Travelers,

                 I need your help.

                             Repair my threads
                      of broken memory.

                              Reveal the precise words.

                      Reveal the true history.

                           What happened
​                       to these peoples?

                      What
​                  were they forced
​                                           to endure?


​

                             The truth

                                   is in

                             your hands.





​



​