How to Dress a Fish. Abigail Chabitnoy

spent the evening

      looking

      for other bones

      I might have

      missed

      for nights

      I dreamed of other bodies

      escaping

      and bad omens.

The earth was hollow

      around my feet.

      My feet were wading earth and

      rotted branches. Limbs the size of human thigh

      and twigs that could fit a small child

      hand.

      But no trees for them to have fallen

      and soon I was buried to my waist and some of the branches

      were curved like a bow – like ribs –

      and some knotted evenly into a perfect spine

      and the salt on the air was soured.

      I mean, the stench became so bad

      I had to leave the bodies where they lay.

ELOCUTION LESSONS

      Grandfather is sitting in the kitchen with “all conveniency” in his cup.

      Mother says these things skip a generation.

      Q: Is it because “Indian” marries “white girl” produces “half-breed” shortly after “Indian” dies? Because only half the blood can hide, only half the bones come clean?

      A: Where are you going with these?

      Figures from the CDC are inexact. They’ve been imprecise in their correlations, and

      There are a number of ways one might choose

      to articulate the shape

      dependent on distance between tongue

      and how many teeth

      I’m beginning to suspect their threats are crossed.

Leading causes of death:¹ Heart disease bad heart cancer unintentional injuries frequently following consumption of alcohol followed by diabetes chronic liver disease higher rate of binge drinking chronic lower respiratory disease stroke suicide social(?) pneumonia impaired judgment kidney disease … this is all just speculation of [a] course

      What constitutes a bad heart?

      What constitutes social consumption?

      intent?

      a threat?

      Cause

      of death: traumatized.

      Q: Are you trying to relate to me?

      Statistics are a soft science.

      INSERT BLOOD REQUIREMENTS HERE.

      [Disregard.]

      “Not only in architecture, dress, and food did administrators and settlers try to maintain home standards but also in generating the statistical information that was deemed necessary by the national government.”

      Considerable energy goes into constructing suitable records

      that are in the end

      inadequate.

      “Given enough time, these things can be redressed.”

      A: Yes, I am trying to relate to you—

      Which of my bones are yours?

      How about some extra ones for my back?

      (My spine is prone to fracture. A body has needs

      to know its limits.)

      I think I’ve got the color down, except for my white sexed parts, my mother parts. These are unresponsive.

      White is a nervous shade,

      don’t you think?

      So easy to spoil.

      I’ve been wearing white since the wedding. There are some stains, as one might expect.

      Red and yellow, black and white…

      I am precious on my mother’s side.

      “It is our generation’s turn. That is, it’s my turn, but

      I don’t feel the need. That is, I don’t feel any real threat.”

      Observations: Although health outcomes among AIs are improving, large disparities with other racial and ethnic groups in the United States remain. Many health-related problems are directly linked to high rates of substance use and abuse.

      One mustn’t rush to find a cause until we know

      all the facts are known.

      It’s just—

      the bones these social scientists keep digging up

      remember where the blood escaped

      there was blood in them

      we buried—

      I have inherited more skeletons than I can count. Such a weary weight to conquer this mass.

      Q: Statistically speaking,

      Must I be old?

      Must I be traditional?

      Must I be fair?

Fair skinned, fair haired, neatly squared²?

      A: The question of blood lies out the body.

       bodies

      Guangkuta “Sugpianek” ap’rtaakiikut cuumi, nutaan ap’rtaaraakut Alutiit.

      Can you put my apaq on the line? That is, my great- (in regarding distance) apaq on this line? It is important that I reach him, that I follow the right channels, a body

      water will wash away

      return me transparent to the sea.

      On weekends I can be found in museums trying to find the right

      face to wear in light of recovered records and evolving vocabulary.

      I am thinking a shark but a shark like any other predator

      looks as much man as monster the way

      these bodies are

      figured.

      Results: Grandfather is crying, great-grandfather is crying. Where are they going, the children, and when // will they come back?

      It means we-are-people.

      Still, there’s a chance, mother says:

      these things skip a generation.

¹ National Vital Statistics System, LCWK1_2013. Deaths, 15 leading causes of[,] death by race: United States, 2013, Page 100.