The White Buffalo

Art by Daniel Eskridge (

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She is a prayer

in service, a song

in offering

her young nose holds the leash of this prayer

her hump huge from other’s burden 

her fur meant for another’s skin

her meat and breath for the taking, giving

her sacred bundle of bones twined with smoke

her legs ready, thighs thick

lips singing, this happy holy trek

but on her purposeful path

she slips on rubble 

prayer on the wrong lips

her fur burnt by an odd blaze

hunched, burdening meant for other backs

her leash caught on another’s finger

her bundle scattered unmattered

offered to smaller than her shine

she stumbles thus on the soil 

directionless, she turns 

until

guided by all directions

she stands, shattered

and herself she mends 

building her bundle 

gluing her bones 

stitching her flesh

combing her fur grey

she sings the same prayer

I am an offering

I keep on the path

till found, my ‘right altar.

by mansi kakkar

______________________

written as a song for fellow white buffalos.

Thumbnail Photo by Yannick Menard on Unsplash