Buffalo Thunder

Bronze sculpture of Native American dressed as buffalo

The thunder of a thousand buffalo
Thumping,
Moving boldly without fear or
challenge.

Strong spirits
Stirring up clouds of dust
Into the sky.

I am among them,
Feeling a part of this mighty herd.

My being is buffalo,
I am—-
BUFFALO THUNDER!

-Howard Rainer
American Indian Poet

The Taos Pueblo Indians of New Mexico perform this traditional dance today just as it was a hundred years ago. Seventy or eighty dancers, all with Buffalo heads, imitate the Buffalo herd to the beat of the drum. I was inspired to do this piece after watching the dance with my son, Zachariah.