Wampum

In the early contact period, New England Indian wampum consisted of small tubular-shaped shells drilled and strung as beads. — Alfred A. Cave The breaking of clouds begins with seizure. A man grabs another, reasons ransom. A murder averted in the thing’s scheme. A cape’s shell transformed, more than one supposed. What stands behind this? Enemy or friend? (Yes, they can be both. Don’t you think I know?) List: Dutch. Indian. Pequot. Puritan. List: Then. War. Event. Now. History. List. The shell buys glories of iron and pelt. Wampum is dismissed. Joke. Sneer. Currency of the disappeared whose children live still. List: Blessing. Curse. Wife. Slave. Savior. Savage. The shells make their noise. The robbed graves cradle. He who brings food to the starving gets cooked.