Page 74 - Dark Matter Issue5 Part II

where there is just enough wind and sun for a thousand green shoots to grow

and move in the cold and tired wind, a wind now completely gone.

Notes:

"Arching Towards the Sun," is about the kinship I felt through two really strong Native women -

both dancers, both with lifetimes of sadnesses. "Cold and Tired Wind," is about one of the first

men I loved, when he was only a young man. He's gone now. He and I had a very turbulent,

though deep connection. The pieces aren't 100% autobiographical, in fact, most of my work is

80% imaginative, but what I described above is where they began. And the collection they come

from is honestly, probably the most autobiographical thing I've written. Dark, feminine, and all

about the kinship of Native people in different points of their lives.

About the Author

Erika T. Wurth’s published works include a novel, Crazy

Horse’s Girlfriend and a collection of poetry, Indian Trains. Her

collection of short stories, Buckskin Cocaine and her collection of

poetry, A Thousand Horses Out to Sea are both forthcoming. A

writer of both fiction and poetry, she teaches creative writing at

Western Illinois University and has been a guest writer at the

Institute of American Indian Arts. Her work has appeared or is

forthcoming in numerous journals. She is represented by Peter

Steinberg. She is Apache/Chickasaw/Cherokee and was raised

outside of Denver.