Girl-Warrior began to notice

She was different.

When asked a question, even a simple question

Maybe, about a pine tree in memory,

She could not respond in a straight line.

She might see a pine tree.  Then a row of pine trees.

Then the history of pine trees,

Or from the point of view of a pine tree,

or the dream of a pine tree far from the earth and the sky

all upon being asked the question.


By then, she did not know how to respond.

She was lost in an eternity of pine trees.

Her instinct was to build in circles

When asked a question.

She might lose the beginning

And then the ending.

She might have the start of a painting

Or a poem

But no easy yes or no response.


From Warrior Poet by Joy Harjo (p. 22)