Shaniya Smith
is Bitter Water, born for Near the Mountain People. As a Diné artist, fiction writer, and poet, she draws from her experience growing up in a culture meshed with brokenness and deep resilience. A recipient of the Dockstader Fellowship, she is currently pursuing her MFA at Northern Arizona University.
Language Barrier
I feel my mouth pull-savage
eyebrows draw in, eyes squint narrow
Shinálí asdzą́ą́ stands
mesa-tall and gazes up
I fling cascading words to wound,
“Why didn’t you teach me?”
Countenance earth-weathered
flinches-quick
“Why didn’t you teach me
my language?”
Weary chasm-bagged
eyes shimmer-heavy
shoulders stoop low
I find lungs fearfully stiff
eyes quiver-relentless regret
ignorant blame flash floods away
Shinálí asdzą́ą́ with velveteen
sleeves around elbows slender
trimmed nails caked white
turns slow