Crossing the Border by Joy Harjo 1 We looked the part. It was past midnight, well into the weekend. Coming out of Detroit into the Canada side, border guards 5 and checks. We are asked, are you Indians “Who and which side are you from?” Barney answers in a broken English. He talks this way to white people not to us. kids.” “Our 10 My children are wrapped and sleeping in the backseat. He points with his lips to half-eyed Richard in the front. one, too.” “That 15 But Richard looks like he belongs to no one, just sits there wild-haired like a Menominee my wife…” Not true. “And But hidden under the windshield 20 at the edge of this country we feel immediately suspicious These questions and we don’t look like we belong to either side. liquor or firearms?” “Any 25 He should have that years ago and we can’t help but laugh. Kids stir around in the backseat but it is the border guard who is anxious. He is looking for crimes, stray horses 30 for which he has no apparent evidence. are you going?” “Where
Crossing the Border by Joy Harjo 1 5 10 15 20 25 30 We looked the part. It was past midnight, well into the weekend. Coming out of Detroit into the Canada side, border guards and checks. We are asked, “Who are you Indians and which side are you from?” Barney answers in a broken English. He talks this way to white people not to us. “Our kids.” My children are wrapped and sleeping in the backseat. He points with his lips to half-eyed Richard in the front. “That one, too.” But Richard looks like he belongs to no one, just sits there wild-haired like a Menominee “And my wife…” Not true. But hidden under the windshield at the edge of this country we feel immediately suspicious These questions and we don’t look like we belong to either side. “Any liquor or firearms?” He should have that years ago and we can’t help but laugh. Kids stir around in the backseat but it is the border guard who is anxious. He is looking for crimes, stray horses for which he has no apparent evidence. “Where are you going?”