When Black Elk spoke, Neihardt listened,
When Les Peterson talks, no one hears.  

Les Peterson, a half Indian man,
Grew up with all the Indian's woes.  

Known by his jet black ponytail,
He holds forth in the country bars,  

Drinks harder than anyone else,
But never loses his wits or fight,  

Delights in playing the crude, contrary Indian,
Telling snackers they're just producing crap,  

Rides an American –made, custom Harley
And specializes in the hearts of white girls.  

A veteran of the Viet Nam jungles,
He fought tough and keeps it quiet.  

An outsider at that country bar, I am
An easy touch for talk and drinks.  

Trading rounds of beer and booze,
I try to play John Neihardt with him.  

"Don't worry about my talk", he says,
"Another drink and I'll be Mexican."    

Mike Hilger is a professor emeritus at UWEC, who taught in the English Department for 30 years and was Chair of the American Indian Studies program. His most recent book, Native Americans in Movies: Portrayals from the Silents to the Present will be published by Scarecrow Press in the near future.

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