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Mike
Member Elite

since 1999-06-19

Posts 2462

0 posted 2001-05-20 10:54 PM

In the shadow of the mountains,
Lay a land of desolation,
Lay a land of deportation,
Lay the Sand Creek reservation.
Death chants of the Cheyenne warriors,
Flag of truce Black Kettle flew,
Hordes of locusts scourge the prairie,
Soldier's sabres, coats of blue.
Sharp retorts of long gun's lightening,
Echoed forth the children's cries,
Barren lands of fruitless plains,
Stained with blood beneath blue skies.
Settlers flowed as pounding rains,
No way to stem the white man’s tide,
So Black Kettle ceded freedom,
Yet the Cheyenne people died.
In the shadow of the mountains,
Silence of the white men's lies,
Silence of the lone wolf's cries,
Silence as the warrior dies,
Cries the Keeper of the Plains,
No shuttered room does life extol,
Virgin prairie; open sky,
Is the body; is the soul.
Last fingers of a dying sun,
Rattle of Wapiti's bones,
Winds blow north; winds blow south,
Echoes of a warrior's moans.
Tears of eagles, down cheeks coursing,
Evermore the prairie stains,
In death’s sorrow; pain's despairing,
In the winds, Sand Creek remains,
Cries the Keeper of the Plains.

Joyce Johnson

Member Rara Avis

since 2001-03-10

Posts 9912
Washington State

1 posted 2001-05-21 02:05 AM

This is a wonderful poem about a tragic past. Joyce

Michael

Moderator

Member Rara Avis

since 1999-08-13

Posts 7666
California

2 posted 2001-05-21 02:11 AM

Your words flow beautifully, Mike, but the tragedy beneath this piece stings me deeply - being of Native American background, myself. Wonderful work, if a very sad topic.

Michael

poni
Junior Member

since 2001-05-17

Posts 21
Nebraska

3 posted 2001-05-21 02:15 AM

so vivid in description...

passing shadows
Member Empyrean

since 1999-08-26

Posts 45577
displaced

4 posted 2001-05-21 04:15 AM

tears of eagles...yes

*thank you for this one*

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

5 posted 2001-06-16 05:37 AM

Just reading your work is a lesson in writing. A deep subject about a troubled past...you continue to amaze me with your finesse, you take difficult subjects and with your knowledge of poetry craft make it appear easy. Ever, I remain a fan, Mr. Mike!

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

6 posted 2001-06-16 09:36 AM

You do these so very well, concise, absolute, and always leave the sound of the rattle behind....

Well done Sir!

VAS
Member Rara Avis

since 2000-11-16

Posts 7450
Oregon

7 posted 2001-06-16 10:02 AM

beautifully woven, the rhythm has a very traditional feel to it as well as a haunting one, the words cry for the generations, and flow like the sand from an hour glass that empties into eternity

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