George Catlin, American
Running Bear Was the Only Witness To the Great Chocolate Heist, and He Wasn’t Talking. Had the Thief Threatened Him To Keep Quiet? I Guess We’ll Never Know, 1844
Oil on canvas
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Info, or perhaps links that point to more info, about this artist can be found here, here (archived if necessary), here, here, here, here (can be read in full for free on Fridays), here, here, here (archived if necessary), here, here, here, here, here, here, and here, perhaps in addition to what’s in his Wikipedia page.
/// When Fast Dancer was asked why his face
had that hand-print, and why in that place,
what he answered was quirky:
“Me tried drawing a turkey.”
(His “dumb Injun act” was a disgrace.)
/// Here’s the truth: Wash-ka-mon-ya, Fast Dancer,
a Warrior chose not to answer
why his face has that mark,
so bold, striking and stark.
(Hand-to-hand he had once killed a lancer.)
/// Painted handprint, to people who knew
what it meant, said he’s somebody who
could slay men in a fight
using cunning and might.
Like some inmates with teardrop tattoo.
/// Several men of the Iowa tribe,
Caitlin sought with his paints to describe
in his “Indian Gallery.”
And, in lieu of a salary,
brought to London to hype up the vibe.
/// Cross Atlantic George Catlin had sailed.
For his paintings he hoped to be hailed.
Warriors came with their kin
to display copper skin
and to prove how each likeness George nailed.
/// As he painted the front of his head,
he would think of what Dad always said:
“When your makeup’s complete,
always check that it’s neat,
and be sure you don’t wear it to bed.
–– or ––
/// When that open palm whack Will Smith swung,
it was obvious how hard it stung.
Using words they would bleep,
Will had warned him to “Keep
my wife’s name off your (effing) forked-tongue.”