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Open Poetry #42
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Grandfather and the Young Boy
| Open Poetry #42 |
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Grandfather and the Young Boy |
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Joe Crow Member
since 2007-12-18
Posts 66Indiana |
This is at your request John, Grandfather and the Young Boy As the fearless one climbed nearer to the top of the Mesa his foot dislodged a stone that was put into motion in an ever quickening downward descent. Clicking and clacking as it went on it’s own way, sometimes skipping over, sometimes dislodging others, causing the long still ones to follow it’s fall. The Young Boy paused to watch. He knew it could have been him and he thought of the story Grandfather told of the Beautiful Maiden that fell from the sky. Did she trust like he did? He wondered about her and deep inside he felt a special connection to her. He didn’t know why. To him it made no difference at all, that’s why he climbed the Mesa while the rest of the Earth Clan preferred to remain undisturbed. His thought turned to how the stone his foot had put in motion moved the others. The Earth Clan was the original clan upon Mother Earth. There were others who would follow and they called themselves what they would, each claiming retention of the original way. Yet each step took them farther away from the first circle encampment and the People remained unaware, continuing each in their own way. And so history unfolded like a great scroll. First Man and First Woman were the beginnings of the Earth Clan and their numbers grew quickly. The Grandmother Spirit herself had blessed them and came to them in dreams and visions. She instructed them in the proper ways to use plants and the animals, the fashioning of tools and such and had told them long ago to consider each step taken upon this Earth, to keep it sacred and holy. Smoke this pipe in remembrance of me, she said. The Young Boy was quick to learn the way. It was as if it were imprinted upon his very soul and Grandmother was pleased to see he had chosen to walk as his Grandfather had, in harmony with the sky above and the Earth below. She took special interest in him because although he was unaware, fate remained in his hands, his cunning and his ability to survive. One day the Young Boy would see his Grandfather face to face it was only a matter of time. According to the handed down version of history Grandfather himself was the teacher but as the Young Boy would come to discover the Spirit Woman is the true teacher and that the words of wisdom that Grandfather spoke had only come because she sat with him in council. Grandfather was the Storyteller. He was close to the top now and although the air was crisp and cool from the elevation, the sun was hot upon his skin. When he reached the top he eased himself onto the sitting rock his own Grandfather had dug from the Earth. How his Grandfather had known that the hidden side of the rock would fit the curve of his own body as it had fit his didn’t matter to him, after all he had the same experience many times in his own life. It was more like something just led him to it so he settled in and took in the view. Nearby, on the branch of an ancient tree sat a Crow watching the Young Boy from his own perch high atop the Mesa. He watched as he always had, since the beginning of time. My brother the Crow, the Young Boy acknowledged the Crows presence, it is good to see you on such a beautiful day as this. The Crow paused for a moment returning the greeting in his own way and flew away. The Young boy thought of how he used to try to sneak up on the Crows with his bow when they were massed together and he admired how clever they were. Always posting sentry’s around their position, ready to sound an alarm when an intruder came to close and with one cry they’d all be gone leaving him to speculate; there’s no such thing as a stupid Crow. He traced his path across the sky with his eyes. From his vantage point the scenery was one giant pastel landscape of awesome beauty. It didn’t surprise him his Grandfather had chosen this place and he let the beauty absorb him. The world below was alive with the majestic nature. Most people could walk right on by and never notice the complex tasks each creature played in the big picture. They were too busy in their own lives to notice much of anything but he noticed how each effort fulfilled a task to be performed for function and each function completed the overall form of things. That was how nature worked and he was not the teacher of these matters but a student and here in the stillness of beauty he found peace and became One with it all. Grandmother, he cried out, I love you! Suddenly, overhead, he heard the cry of an Eagle cruising the sky. Looking up in awe he watched as the mighty bird slid through the air effortlessly while his thoughts drifted to a story Grandfather had etched into the rock nearby in the form of a picturegraph. A Woman with two wings of the Great Eagle, a dragon with water pouring from his mouth, a child and another round woman opening the rocks and withdrawing a large jar to catch the water. A little farther down the path of the picture stones was a solitary image of an Eagle on nest with a child sitting astride the Eagles back. He smiled to himself and continued to watch the Eagle glide along on its way until it disappeared from view. The ways of the Spirit are deep and mysterious he thought, not easily learned but something to be studied carefully from the right place. Perhaps it must always be studied from a distance he wondered but deep down inside he had a feeling maybe he should learn to fly to observe these matters up close. He had dreamed he could fly and what was reality if not a dream come to realization? Closing his eyes he looked into the black mirror, the window of his soul and waited patiently. That is why he loved the Mesa, the stillness, the beauty, the quiet time he spent alone with only himself for company. His thoughts became clear and focused here, in perfect harmony with all of Creation and the Great Eagle. Here atop the Mesa he would learn to fly in time. This was the beginning of the Eagle Society. Grandfather’s camp was set in a secret place that resembled the Mesa but existed at the entrance to the Spirit World. A place that existed between what is revealed and what is hidden of the most sublime beauty. Many had sought its location, many had been lost and left confused wandering aimlessly in the labyrinth. In his hair he wore two Eagle feathers, a present from the Great Spirit the white men called God. The white men were a jealous people, envious, boastful, proud, greedy, lustful, unable to quench even their basest desire. Over them was set the Dragon, the ancient serpent whose voice roared as the thunder while the fire consumed them from within. The Wasichu ran but he could never escape the net spread over the whole Earth to ensnare the Dragon. The Great Spirit had given Grandfather the two wings that he should carry the Woman far into the ancient wilderness, back to the place where time ends and begins to protect her from the Dragon who had forgotten the way. Grandfather was prepared to do battle with the Dragon, a fight to the death but the Great Spirit who knew all things great and small had already appointed an end for the world that was that should be no more and showed Grandfather in a vision what must be. The Woman in the vision he had seen many times before. Mostly from a distance, among the trees in the Great Forest, that’s where he saw her. Moving in and out of the trees, cautiously, carefully studying him. Her eyes always focused intently upon his own and a beauty such as hers, Grandfather as a young Boy, had never seen before. Still every time he saw her he knew she was silently calling, beckoning him to come to her and so the vision revealed: They belonged together. Grandfather would take her as his own in a secret wedding of which the world was unaware, the likes of which the world had never seen and here in the secret place they made their home. The Dragon searched for their camp and sought to devour the Woman and her child for he had seen that his own time of judgment had come and the time he had left was short upon this Earth. Many were the souls the Dragon tortured in his quest for eternal life and the victims’ read like a who’s who list of the great and the small. Little people with big egos, they were his instruments of destruction and his lies overpowered them like the smell from rancid meat left to long in the hot sun. But they were safe here, Grandfather and his Woman, protected on all sides by the sheer cliff that surrounded them and it was from this vantage point they watched over the World below. Grandfather smiled to himself and thought about how fortunate he had been to find a Woman whose heart was so true to his own and how grateful he was her love burned as strong for him as his for her. He took her by the hand and said: Woman, I love you. I know it doesn’t need to be spoken out loud for you to know but my lips don’t grow weary from telling you it is so. She drew herself tightly to him and they locked together in a lovers embrace. Heart to heart, face to face, the way love was meant to be. Grandfather had built the hearth at the center of the camp but it was his Woman who kindled the flame without end that burned continuously and they sat together side by side, in the stillness of their prayer, calling for the children to return to the place of birth. Grandfather sang softly while she hummed the tune; O my children hear my song. To the four corners of the Earth you’ve been scattered and yet none consider why? All are lost and wander alone. Now hear my song while I call you home. From the four corners I cry, for peace I cry, for you my People I cry. Only my son has heard my cry. Picking up a stick together they stirred the fire slowly, calling silently, both locked deep in prayer focusing their energy together into a single ball of light that radiated out in all directions with one perfectly formed thought: Return to me now! The World below was divided into two parts. One part perfect from its formation, organized and harmonized into creation with a single breath and a single purpose, the natural nature that made the Earth home to the created. The second part was called chaos. Disconnection from the natural world, subjugated to the forces of good and evil, where men’s thoughts became entangled in the great web of deceit spun by the Father of lies himself. It was made to catch the souls of men and made it appear to them that the realties of their illusions were the only world that mattered while they told themselves God had set them as rulers over the Great Spirit’ natural nature. The truth was these men were rulers of nothing let alone the illusion which another had placed over them to prevent their escape lest they corrupt all that is sacred and holy. Grandfather watched from above as the story unfolded below and set forth a special blessing to protect the Young Boy on his journey. Long ago he had warned the People of the Earth Clan when he spoke these words to them. Shhhh, the Wasichu is coming and hell follows with him, a blessing and a curse. He has eyes but he can’t see, he has ears but he cannot hear, leaving death and destruction in his wake. The People asked, should we kill him Grandfather? And Grandfather said, No, you can’t kill him he is already dead. But we are frightened and afraid, the People protested. Grandfather said, you must pray for him that he finds the way, the true way, the path of peace. Now be still and watch and we shall see what his end should be…… Enter the Wasichu, Paleface, the one who speaks with the forked tongue. The one whose words say one thing while his actions say another, the Fat Taker. It appeared to those who walked the Earth that they were as the grasshoppers, spread out as far as the eye could see devouring all in their path but the Wasichu wasn’t men but the walking dead man. A spirit without a soul wandering endlessly alone among men. Put out and cast off. That is why Grandfather had told the People no when they desired to kill him. For what would it profit the People to commit suicide, so saith the Woman? All men were affected by the release of the Wasichu and the Earth had not witnessed such a darkness even in the time before the People emerged from the dark cave into the light. War followed war as the time of great trouble played out. The People were scattered as leaves by the wind, carried off as bones from the carcass by the scavengers and the blood cried from the Earth; Help me….. Now the time established for the end was sought out by the Wasichu and many men envied themselves as his spokesman and sought to speak in his name. Presidents, Generals, Dictators, Preachers, Rabbis, Popes, little men with big titles and not much sense. Grandfather himself didn’t even know the time as the Wasichu kept time but his Woman had whispered the secret to his ear long ago: One day we’ll have our moment, forever…. Search as they might the people who empowered the deception were unable to discover the cause of their fall for their own ego stood in the way of simple truth while the fruit of their err grew uncontrollably, pride. And darkness spread over the People. Grandfather had fought his own battles long ago on the vision quest that had led him to his Woman and though he wasn’t allowed to kill the Wasichu together with his bride he had overcome its power with the strength of his own arm and the Great Spirit above all things smiled on creation while the world below swirled in the torment of fear and doubt. Grandfather and his Woman became guardians of the gate, the only way out. Back on the Mesa the Young Boy was locked deep into his own being, focused like a prayer on the thoughts from above and opened to the vision that led him on his own quest. He could see the faces of the souls caught in the flames, he could hear the anguish of their screams, the gnashing of their teeth and he wondered why they chose to hold onto what was destroying them? Why don’t they just let go and trust, he thought? The destroyer is upon you, whispered the Woman in his ear. Many are the times I have warned you when it was time to run and you have been faithful to heed my voice, trusting and true. Now hear what I say to you for the end is near at hand. The race will not be won by the swiftest runner for fear runs the fastest of them all and the souls you have seen in the flames were overcome by the destroyer. Like a harvester with a sharp blade they fell by the wayside like so many blades of grass for their judgment has come. But you my son will face your fear and you should know that I will be with you and your heart will fail you not. Take no thought upon yourself of what you think will happen, trust my voice and I will lead you through. As her voice faded so did his vision fade into black as the sky over the Mesa became covered like a blanket by a huge black cloud that had come suddenly. His thoughts said run and seek shelter from the storm, why fight it panic drives the great herd? But the Young Boy remained still and listened for the voice that spoke without speaking while the fear drew closer. He could feel it now, surrounding him, calling his name like the thunder. There behind him, over his left shoulder he felt it approaching but the warning to run didn’t come so he spoke; What do you want from me? Now fear had a language but it wasn’t anything intelligible that a Human could make sense of and the only time the Young Boy had seen a face or heard a voice to be associated with fear was in a dream. It was there he saw his brothers fall in the house of death as he watched through the window. The arm of his strength had been poisoned by the Wasichu’s henchmen and he was helpless to prevent it so he stood and looked on as his brothers eyes turned to glass from the injection they had given him. After trying to persuade his brother’s friends that they should help him free him from the House of Death he found that they too were under the influence of the poison so he decided he would go alone. When he knocked on the door it opened without hesitation and there he stood, the Wasichu himself. Tall and pale with dark eyes, focused and intense. I want my brother, said the Young Boy, release him to me now! The Wasichu answered in a voice that chilled the Young Boy. I can see you are strong he said but you have no power over me. I will not release him. And with that the door was closed. Back on the streets in the city with no name the Young Boy was troubled by the Wasichu’s saying but was determined to do something, anything, so he did the only thing he knew, the one thing that came to him naturally. He cried out for help within himself. Is there no one to help me free my brother? That’s when she appeared, the Woman of mystery who spoke with him without speaking at all. It is described as telepathy. Will you free my brother, he thought? Yes, came the reply. I Love You, he said knowing before he thought it she already knew. I Love You too, she smiled. Turning to walk away he was compelled to look back upon her again but she had transformed into a shape he hadn’t seen before; A cluster of burning pearls that pulsed and swayed, glowing with the fire hidden deep within. Beautiful, delicate, powerful, beyond Human comprehension, he thought. The Wasichu was upon him now but refused to answer for the Young Boy wasn’t in the dream world but fully conscious and aware. Maybe the words spoken by him in the dream cut both ways like a two-edged sword and maybe the Wasichu had no power over him unless he could make him run. He considered the thought. Now it wasn’t that the Young Boy couldn’t run but that he wouldn’t run and he focused upon the words of the Woman and trusted her voice alone. Grandfather himself had set the trap high atop the Mesa where the Young Boy was locked in a war for his soul with the Wasichu and though the child was unaware of it’s presence it didn’t matter. All it would take was his hand to spring the trap. It was well hidden among the majestic nature, in the words and invisible to the naked eye. Grandfather had devised it perfectly. The darkness on the Mesa became total and the Young Boy was forced to focus harder to keep his composure. He asked again; What do you want from me? I want your soul, came the voice like the thunder! You are the last of your kind, surrender to me now and I will let you rule with me for many have fought against me and I have overcome them all. Are you the destroyer, asked the Young Boy? I am the saviour not the destroyer, spoke the Wasichu. The world is full of evil men, weak-minded and unstable. Their souls belong to me now. Who gave you your power, the Young Boy asked. And the Wasichu said; God made me King over the world below, look out upon my Kingdom. Overhead a light appeared in the center of the black cloud and the Young Boy cast his eyes upon it. Was it a star he wondered? Looking harder he could see now that what had appeared to be a solid blanket of cloud was moving and swirling, little black shapes fluttering and massed tightly together. He thought of his Grandfather as he watched the light and as he did the fire seemed to grow brighter. He felt something touch his hand. The Woman he had seen in his visions was beside him. He could feel her pressing tight to him and it made him stronger. He could see now that the light was a fire and he looked into the eyes of his Grandfather and Grandmother. They were smiling and he smiled to himself. The Wasichu said; Listen to me, what are you doing? I am the King over you. Submit to me now, do you not know my power? I could have your heart on a platter or your head presented to me on a stick. I can open the gates of Hell to release the demons that feast while they devour the flesh of men so you best fear me boy. Raising his hand he summoned the souls of those he had conquered, their form unrecognizable as human, pitiful disfigured creatures who obeyed without question. The source of your torment stands before you, proclaimed the Wasichu. Kill him now that you may be revenged! Without thought the Young Boy reacted. Standing up he spoke; You have no power over me for I fear you not. The Dragon is your master and the source of your delusion, your power, but your power is not real but compels you and those you rule with fear. Clapping his hands together the cloud broke into millions of pieces. Crows black as night, his brothers, Grandfathers trap had been sprung. Swooping down they began their assault on the Wasichu. He tried to run but the attack of the Crow was inescapable. Picking, pecking, prodding, cutting him off at every turn, the crows closed in from all four sides. The Wasichu fell to the ground and tried to cover himself while the tormented looked on in amazement. No one can make war with the Wasichu and win they said, how can this be? Silence, said the Young Boy. Watch and we will see what his end should be. So the Crows stood the Wasichu on his feet and said to him; Who do you say you are that you should question our right to live as beings of the Majestic Nature created by the Great Spirit above for though you judge us as being black, within our soul burns the fire with no end. You stand now alone as our accuser and have spoken by your actions that the Earth to you is little more than an object to be used and discarded at your pleasure and that the Earth isn’t even your real home. So you wander this Earth as an outcast devouring the souls of men because a soul you have not and the Great Spirit hides his face from you. All the wars you have waged have been paid for in blood and in sorrow while death has come to all you have touched and still you do not see. What pity have you felt? Whose cries have you heard? What mercy have you shown? Why can’t you see we were perfect from creation? It is written in the Holy Book the White Men would call their own that God gave Man, who is Adam, the First Man, dominion over the Earth. Not, God gave God dominion. And yet you choose to make yourself as God saying you are the judge of good and evil when we as the People know no such thing. In all your wisdom you are a fool for your wisdom isn’t Wisdom at all but a harlot who takes pleasure in men’s sufferings. The Young Boy asked; what is your will Grandfather? And the Young Boy said, these are the words of my Grandfather. “Let the Crow take him and fly him into the wilderness and if it be their will the Great Spirit will heal him or cast him off forever.” The Crow clutched the Wasichu tight in his grasp and flew him high over the world below saying: Look upon the destruction you have visited upon the Green Earth below. See the poverty of the people who have sold their souls for nothing. See the Earth they raped and plundered for profit. See the ghettos where the Kings of the Earth have been driven. This is the kingdom over which you rule. Should I drop you now so your people can see their great God fall from the sky? The Wasichu began to squirm while the Crow laughed at his predicament. My grip is beginning to grow weary, you best hold yourself still. My claws are not intended to hold fast like those of the Great Eagle and whether you choose to live or perish means nothing to me. The Wasichu cried out for God to come to his aid, Almighty God, strike down my enemy. The Crow laughed again and began to flap his wings harder as they climbed higher and higher. And what God is it you should come to your rescue? It seems to me now that you see God is not with you or why would you call out for help? But you should know that the Great Spirit is with us always for we are the People, the Son and we fear you not. The Wasichu said, My purpose has been accomplished. Even in your dislike of me you have shown patience, mercy, compassion and judgement that could only have come from the name that is never spoken out loud. I can only exercise the power given to me from above. My mission, to turn men from the wickedness of their ways, to cause all who would drink from the poison cup to perish and die for their sin has reached the Great Spirit who has given life to all. With a great fury he has poured out his wrath upon men who are full of contempt and conceit. Let it not be said they were undeserving. But you have chosen to reject the good and the evil and secretly I have hoped you would overcome. Do not think I take pleasure in doing what must be done for the chain that binds me to the world I hate is not easy to bear. I can see you are strong, still there are many things you do not know. Take comfort knowing when I am gone from this world the New World will come. From the beginning men have misunderstood the simplicity of the message and the purpose of the adversary. And with that he simply disappeared. Back on the Mesa the Young Boy noticed the Crow was watching him again from the perch on the ancient tree. Grandfathers voice passed by like the wind saying: You have done well my son and the gate to my camp is open. You should come to visit me and we will smoke the sacred pipe while we sit beside the fire and talk. Always remember, it is not necessary for Eagles to be Crows or for Crows to be Eagles but that you are brothers and my circle is big enough for all the People of the Earth Clan. Grandfather never was one to say goodbye, the Young Boy thought. He was like the Woman in that way. Sometimes out of touch, sometimes out of reach but always there nearby knowing in the end time would bring them back together and he remembered; One day we’ll have our moment, forever. He smiled…………. The People of the Earth Clan are like stones thought the Young Boy remembering the ones his foot had set into motion climbing up the Mesa. And my foot like the story, each step sure and true. My Grandfather always told the best stories it seemed to the Young Boy and for one that left so many tracks to follow it amazed him that the People could be so lost. When I hold myself still and listen to the words it is the voice of my Grandfather telling me the tales of what was, what is and what shall be. Thank You for showing me my Woman Grandfather, the Young Boy said from high atop the Mesa. Grandfather said, With your Woman’s help build you a fire all the world can see that it may reveal the err of their way and let the faithful be drawn to it…. Joe Crow PS, Sometime I'll post the original version of this I wrote which I felt was lacking but I stll liked it for what it was. "May the things I know be limited only by my imagination" |
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| © Copyright 2008 Joe Crow - All Rights Reserved | |||
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Very interesting...quite a talent...James |
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Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
Hello, Joe! I found the native lore, fascinating. You are a phenomenally descriptive writer and I was engaged throughout this entire piece of poetic prose. May you forever walk "in perfect harmony with all of Creation".  Love & Creator Light, Linda  |
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effjayel Senior Member
since 2007-09-30
Posts 1474At the Crossroads of Infinity |
Thanks Joe, I am sure it will be appreciated in here. Although I have it in my private library, I still read it again. This is an amazing piece of work & probably my favourite of yours. Joe, I have been unable to access your web site, has it been taken down? John |
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Artic Wind Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 8080Realm of Supernatural |
Enjoyed your thoughts! ARCTIC WIND  |
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