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Little Eagle
| Open Poetry #21 |
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Little Eagle |
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Mark Bohannan Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-21
Posts 7269In the winds of Cherokee song 
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Little Eagle With arms spred wide against the horizon of golden plains Little Eagle ran in circles where memories stake their claims Mounds of scorched soil birthing the uproar of summer dust Swirling in the passages of his ancestors with each new gust Eyes fixed to a promise where his people will rise once more Blazing a path of tradition in the freedom of earth's floor Zealous in flight of thought ... lost in the spirit of creation Peace rides his heart bearing the soul of the Cherokee nation Tremors of days filled with trails reddened in desperate tears Bring conviction against the eyes of this little warriors fears Knowledge rests in the praise of all in nature being an equal To strides of moccasins altered by a path of creation's sequel Harsh winters never come to this world "Little Eagle" knows Dreams become reality as easily as the spring breeze flows Gold fills the arrows that fly from his bow adorned in pearl Stretched tight on the feathered strings as his fingers uncurl You see ... "Little Eagle" plays and hunts in the palm of "God" As he fell at the age of four on a trail of tears his parents trod Mark Christopher [This message has been edited by Mark Bohannan (06-17-2002 07:02 PM).] |
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| © Copyright 2002 Mark Bohannan - All Rights Reserved | |||
Magnus
since 2001-10-10
Posts 14135South Carolina, USA |
Beautiful Mark...a sad tale, with much truth entwined... Powerful poem... |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
 Big heavy sigh .... ahhhh Mark ... so WONDERFUL to read you, my friend! I just popped on for a moment, and I saw your name ... and ... I'm "still" smiling. How ARE you?  This is a beautiful piece, with such warmth and heart placed firmly in the memories of Cherokee heritage and remembrance. Just lovely ... oh my yes ... just lovely! Much enjoyed Mark!  Best wishes and big hugs  /Kit PS ... Yup, I'm still smiling! |
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Marsha
since 2000-07-10
Posts 7423Maidstone Kent England |
Mark dear boy Oh how wonderful is this piece. Sometimes a poet drop pearls of wisdom into quiet pools of wonder, and the ripples across that silent pool of thought reach out to another soul, this is such a time. Utterly breathtakingly perfect. Thank you for this beauteous gift You know I love this don’t you? Of course you do. Absolutely perfect writing   Love and warm stuff As always Mushy  Breathe through the heat of our desire |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
Mark! So nice to see you again. This is wonderfully written... Enjoyed thoroughly this evening. ~Hugs~ ~Somewhere in my heart I'm always |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Mark, my friend, I am so glad to see you!! This poem, so tender, goes to ground beyond history, into amaze. Wonderful writing! |
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ethome Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858New Brunswick Canada |
Hey Mark This is eloquent my friend and one that states many of my feelings. It's great to have you back and in marvelous form too I must say "You see ... "Little Eagle" plays and hunts in the palm of "God" As he fell at the age of four on a trail of tears his parents trod" This story has always touched my heart! The "Long Walk" and the Trail of Tears When the American Civil War (1861-65) broke out, it drew soldiers away from Navajo country in the Southwest. The Navajo took advantage of this respite to attack American and Mexican settlements in the Rio Grande Valley in New Mexico territory. The government sent in Colonel Kit Carson and his New Mexico Volunteers to suppress the Navajo and to move them to a reservation on a barren strip of land called Bosque Redondo. Carson pursued a scorched-earth policy to starve and drive the Navajo out of the awesome Canyon de Chelly, in northeastern Arizona. He even destroyed more than 5,000 peach trees. Carson gathered together some 8,000 people and forced them to take the "Long Walk" of about 300 miles to the Bosque Redondo detention camp at Fort Sumner, New Mexico. A report says: "The weather was bitterly cold, and many of the ill-clad, underfed exiles died along the way." The conditions at the reservation were terrible. The Navajo had to gouge out holes in the ground in an effort to find refuge. In 1868, after realizing its crass blunder, the government granted the Navajo 3.5 million acres of their ancestral homeland in Arizona and New Mexico. They went back, but what a price they had been forced to pay! Between 1820 and 1845, tens of thousands of Choctaw, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Creeks, and Seminoles were driven from their lands in the Southeast and forced to march westward, beyond the Mississippi River, to what is now Oklahoma, hundreds of miles away. In cruel winter conditions, many died. The forced march westward became infamous as the Trail of Tears. The injustices committed against Native Americans are further confirmed by the words of the American general George Crook, who had hunted down the Sioux and the Cheyenne in the north. He said: "The Indians' side of the case is rarely ever heard. . . . Then when the [Indian] outbreak does come public attention is turned to the Indians, their crimes and atrocities are alone condemned, while the persons whose injustice has driven them to this course escape scot-free . . . No one knows this fact better than the Indian, therefore he is excusable in seeing no justice in a government which only punishes him, while it allows the white man to plunder him as he pleases."-Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. The role of poetry is to utter the un-utterable; to open up |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Cowboy! You're home! 'Bout time, the stew's been on hold so long, it's melded to the pot...  Good stuff here...don't be a stranger, y'hear? |
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Goodknight Member Elite
since 2002-06-15
Posts 2386Ohio, USA |
a wonderfully written poem - I enjoyed it thoroughly - Paul |
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Mistletoe Angel 
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
 (big hugggssssssss) Oh Mark, this is soooooo heartachingly powerful, sweet friend, I have Cherokee Indian blood in me and I always cry thinking of my ancestors and the cruel ways they were treated and being banished from the land they loved! (sad sigh) I too praise this child and hope somehow all is not lost and indians like him can find a piece of the land to forever dwell upon peacefully, sweet friend, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Mark, thank you for sharing! May love and light always shine upon you! Love, Noah Eaton "Underneath your clothes there's an endless story..." |
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rwood Member Elite
since 2000-02-29
Posts 3793Tennessee |
Sigh~ beautiful..thank you for your voice..and the echoes of memory here even today I believe if you listen..they can be heard. Sincerely, Reg |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
Zealous in flight of thought ... lost in the spirit of creation Peace rides his heart bearing the soul of the Cherokee nation Tremors of days filled with trails reddened in desperate tears Bring conviction against the eyes of this little warriors fears Knowledge rests in the praise of all in nature being an equal To strides of moccasins altered by a path of creation's sequel Harsh winters never come to this world "Little Eagle" knows Dreams become reality as easily as the spring breeze flows Gold fills the arrows that fly from his bow adorned in pearl Stretched tight on the feathered strings as his fingers uncurl You see ... "Little Eagle" plays and hunts in the palm of "God" As he fell at the age of four on a trail of tears his parents trod ================================ Well, well look who rode in  Welcome back to Poetry Land cowboy  Its so good to see your name here again...and this is the perfect poem to make an entrance with....Classic MC poetry... cadence and imagery and my fave theme of yours. When ever you write with your muse of the Native American spirit, we are in for a treat and a lesson of truth and humility. The voice of the ancients can be heard whispering between your lines. and how cool are these lines............ Knowledge rests in the praise of all in nature being an equal To strides of moccasins altered by a path of creation's sequel I think those words encompass the wisdom and truth and speak volumes. Your closing couplets impact and realities pull at the heartstrings. When ever I read your Native American poetry the thing that strikes me is the compassion, respect and humanity that shines thru your gift of imagery. "Gold fills the arrows that fly from his bow adorned in pearl Stretched tight on the feathered strings as his fingers uncurl how beautiful are those words!!! Yeah...we need your poetry around here  mothyme You ... |
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Kethry Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-29
Posts 9082Victoria Australia |
Mark, I've suddenly remembered why I dream in colour when you're around...it's because you fill my mind with wonderful images. Welcome back, set a spell. Kethry Here in the midst of my lonely abyss, a single joy I find...your presence in my mind. Unknown |
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Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
MarkB~ You 'know' you walk the plains of this little Cherokee's heart~ Breathtakingly lovely ... ~ It's really good to see you, my friend~ Gv ge yuhi~ ~*WillowWhiteFeather*~  ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ |
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Gentle Spirit Member Patricius
since 2000-10-09
Posts 13989 |
ah Mark, the name appeared and I knew I was gonna be mesmerized the entire way through. Much thought went into this piece I am sure Mark, and you write this with the wisdom of the spirits whispering to you. Makes me feel as though we should all be sitting around a big cozy camp fire listening as Mark tells the stories. Thank you dear friend, welcome home, and don't be a stranger.....we are blessed when your name appears. I could have missed the pain, but I'd have had to miss the dance~~(Garth) |
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catalinamoon
since 2000-06-03
Posts 9543The Shores of Alone |
SO happy to see you here again. This is a beautifully told story, much enjoyed Stay with us for awhile Sandra |
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Pilgrimage Member Elite
since 2001-12-04
Posts 3945Texas, USA |
I know so little of the Cherokee, my grandmother left the reservation as a baby and never went back. But I've heard stories of the Trail of Tears all my life. This poem is so well done, well told. Nan |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
you knew I'd be back with pics ... I've been stockpiling them the whole time you've been gone...I hope you've got enough poems to keep up with me    "It's not about having what you want ... |
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snowpants Member Elite
since 2000-09-16
Posts 2061KS |
'Harsh winters never come to this world "Little Eagle" knows Dreams become reality as easily as the spring breeze flows Gold fills the arrows that fly from his bow adorned in pearl Stretched tight on the feathered strings as his fingers uncurl' These lines remind me once again of your talent for imagery...it is wonderful to read the written words of your passion...this is an extremely well written poem, as usual, baby...rhyme, cadence, and look at that! even lines, too!! LOVE YA!! k   I've been down this road forever, |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Nice writing Mark...and nice to see you back...James |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
Mix your great talent with your immense respect for the Cherokee and the result is always excellence. This is superb. |
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Lisann Member
since 2001-01-31
Posts 350 |
beautiful write....very nicely done. |
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Mark Bohannan Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-21
Posts 7269In the winds of Cherokee song |
Thank you all for a such a friedly welcome back and for all the wonderful replies. I do appreciate every word and look forward to when I can be here on a more consistant basis, but have no doubt ... I AM BACK!! Thank you again. |
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andEmmamakes3 Member
since 2002-05-11
Posts 66Kent |
Mark hi there, I’m a newbie around here, but I’ve browsed in the archives and read a lot of your work, it is awesome and it seems you’ve lost none of your skill in igniting the forum with image and light. This is a great piece of writing, the colour and visions really flow from your pen. Unlike some people, yes Krissy darling sister I do mean you I don’t have as much opportunity to be online so I haven’t got that much knowledge of the Native American’s history. I have read a great deal of Marge’s writing though and from the little I do know, I can work out that they were very very harshly treated. Anyway this demonstrates beautifully why you’re a favourite around here, I loved the flow the construction and the content simply couldn’t be bettered. Well done. Emma  Eternity, stands laughing at old time |
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CocoBaci Member Elite
since 2000-05-06
Posts 3043 |
He's baaaaaaack and I'm tickled pink that I have this chance2let my dearPoetFriendMark know that me thinx his poetry is truly spectacular... Thank you so very much4this most enjoyed read... Hugs2Usweetie... *~coco~* |
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Charisma
since 2000-09-30
Posts 5906lost in blue pages |
ohhhhhhhhhhh how I have missed reading you, so glad you'r back, and what a writing. hope you will suprise us with much more of your beautiful thoughts. thanks for sharing this one with us Mark (((hugs))) Charisma |
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Madame Chipmunk Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296Michigan |
You see ... "Little Eagle" plays and hunts in the palm of "God" As he fell at the age of four on a trail of tears his parents trod Absolutely wonderful writing, Mark...it really tugs at the emotions... ~ hugs of admirationLyra |
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Butterflies_dont_cry Member Elite
since 2000-03-06
Posts 3733Michigan |
Well here you are spinning the tales that we long to read...been much to long, but then again you always did like to work my patience to a frazzel didn't you! Beautifully felt work my friend, you weave the emotions like no one else can. Hugs to you! |
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Dee Member Elite
since 2000-08-19
Posts 2330Queensland, Australia |
Mark, my friend, I am only back for a few minutes but you know I had to look for you. Hopefully I will have access to a puter soon and will be able to visit more often. Beautifully done as always. You know how much your words impress me. Love, Dee Stand straight and tall, not the reflection as others see you, but as you truely are. Clearwater |
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Mark Bohannan Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-21
Posts 7269In the winds of Cherokee song |
andEmmamakes3- Thank you for the nice words about my poem. I appreciate it. Coco-Anyone ever tell you that you are an angel? Well I am saying it now. Thank you dearly for your kindness and wonderful words. Charisma-I did and will continue to do so. Thank you for that overwhelming welcome back. It and you are much appreciated. Madame Chipmunk- Emotions are what make the world go 'round. Thank you much. Holly - What?????? Me, try your patience???????? I wouldn't ever ... well maybe sometimes. LOL Thanks there my golden winged friend. You know how much it means to me to see you around. Hugs back at ya! Dee- I am always honored and humbled that you go in search of my writing and don't doubt for a minute that you are appreciated. Heck, you would be even if you didn't like my works so much, but don't pay attention to that, I kinda like having you on my posts. Thanks again sweet one. |
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