Friday Fictioneers — Dreaming of Bison

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In my dreams, I have a canoe large enough to save the bison from extinction. It rests on the backs of magical eagles that carry the bison to the Great Plains in the Clouds, far away from the white men with unkempt hair, angry beards, and guns; they who rampage against the landscape, throw up dust, and wage war with the natural order of the world.

In my dreams, the bison create a mighty storm. They thunder across the skies and exhale lightning, so the white men tremble and their spurs crackle.

In my dreams, the meaningless treaties never happened.

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Friday Fictioneers: 100 words stories
Prompt: image (c) Jennifer Pendergast

Author: Sarah Potter Writes

Sarah is a British eccentric who writes offbeat fiction, haiku and tanka poetry. When stuck for words, she sketches or paints instead. She's into nature conservation, sustainability, gardening, dogs, natural health, and reading. Her sociability is something that happens in short bursts with long breathing spaces in between.

40 thoughts on “Friday Fictioneers — Dreaming of Bison”

  2. Dear Sarah,

    We did follow similar paths. Beautifully imagined story. I love your description of the white men with angry beards who throw up dust…
    Like the stories of the Holocaust, I feel the stories of the indigenous should never be forgotten. Well done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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    1. Dear Rochelle,
      Thank you for your kind comment about my story. I had in mind authentic unshaven and unwashed cowboys, rather than the sanitised Hollywood version of them.
      And I agree totally, the stories of the Holocaust and of the indigenous should never be forgotten, although there are those who would rather brush them under the carpet or, worse still, deny them altogether.
      All best wishes
      Sarah

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    1. I think that Terry Pratchett-style imagery very much fits in with the colourful oral tradition of storytelling in the Native American culture!
      There’s far too much cruelty and indifference in this world, and a whole load of rationalisation and self-justification that goes with it.

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    1. Thank you, Dale. I can’t bear to see indigenous peoples so diminished, forced to become second class citizens in their own lands and shoved into reservations, then treated with disdain because they have all sorts of issues, such as alcohol abuse. Who wouldn’t have issues, after that sort of treatment?

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  7. Oh, Sarah, this made me cry. I think you should get it published as poetry that everyone should be able to read–or maybe as required reading in school (and I am not joking about that).

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    1. I agree that it’s so important for present and future generations to know what injustices have been perpetrated against indigenous people, so that maybe these things can be put right in some way, although, sadly, nobody can turn back the clock totally.

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      1. It’s good to find a way to say it that keeps people’s minds open to what you have to say–you reach the mind through the heart, and you have done so beautifully, Sarah.

        Liked by 1 person

  10. A beautiful thought to use a canoe to bring the animals to the prairies in the sky… and all the other things you said, I agree wholeheartedly. It can’t be said often enough.

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      1. I know this is very sad all over the world there are animals we have lost forever. Did you ever read about the Carolina parakeets? Settlers shot at these very amiable and sweet bids and I wrote a post about it. Hopefully, you may find a clue or tag on my post. I am appalled at people who kill everything instead of protecting crrwatutes, birds and insects. Bats in our country got “white nose sydrome” from humans in caves! 😦

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      2. No, I didn’t know about the parakeets. I must find your post about it. It is so very evil, this indiscriminate killing of creatures, especially knowing how fast the extinction rate is speeding up. Humans are meant to be intelligent, but …

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    1. Thank you, Cybele. I hate that the truth is so often tragic. We need more commonsense and compassion in this world. I hate it that people often do terrible things with no other thought than short-term gain for themselves, and damn the consequences for the planet as a whole.

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      1. human nature doesn’t change that much over history it seems. Nor do we look at the bigger picture. But there are a few of us out there who try!! Mind you, it’s always so easy to see in hindsight! 😀

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