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Open Poetry #22
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Sunshine
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Listening to every heart

0 posted 2002-09-24 01:46 PM



Grey Owl

in their living past
he was fed on dreams that last
he would become one

taken to his heart
he could only become part
he dreamed Indian

to revere their way
put his past behind to say
I am one of them

hidden in his skills
was truth of his origin
shadowed by his will

Indian brothers
understood and accepted
he was taken in

he lived Indian
breathed and trapped, Indian
loved an Indian

but he gave all back
in written word and good deed
listened to earth’s creed

his time short on earth
his moccasins still whisper
listen to the wind



Grey Owl, 1888-1938

Read the story of a man who believed
in the Indian way, knew the truth of the land,
took it to his heart as the way of
the people, and wrote, for all, the truth of his stand.

http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/90jan/greyowl.htm  

[This message has been edited by Sunshine (09-24-2002 02:04 PM).]

© Copyright 2002 Karilea Rilling Jungel - All Rights Reserved
Professor Gloom
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of Depression
1 posted 2002-09-24 01:58 PM


Very nice story of Haiku stanzas
Well done and enjoyable

Gloom

Enchantress
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since 2001-08-14
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Canada eh.
2 posted 2002-09-24 02:00 PM


Excellent Karilea!  Great story.
Love the presentation as well!
~Hugs~

~ Time has cast a spell on you
  So you won't ever forget me ~

Crazy Eddie
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since 2002-09-14
Posts 178

3 posted 2002-09-24 02:34 PM



I first read the story of Grey Owl a long time ago, it always seemed strange to me that he was accepted amongst the Indians and denigrated as a fake and charlatan by almost everyone else. I think it highlights the different emphasis placed on labels by different societies, he walked like an Indian; talked like an Indian; hunted like an Indian and thought like an Indian, but most importantly he was accepted as an Indian by the Indians.

A rose by any other name?

I’m once again impressed by your words, thank you for the chance to read and reply


Nightshade
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just out of reach
4 posted 2002-09-24 03:38 PM


Karilea - the story of Grey Owl is quite famous. You have worded this poem to perfection. Chris

Life is not measured by breaths you take, but by moments that take your breath away.

Earth Angel
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since 2002-08-27
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Realms of Light
5 posted 2002-09-24 03:51 PM



I'm putting this into my library! Does that tell you what I think of this masterpiece!

Grey Owl would be so pleased. He was a great man, and you are a great poet!

Linda

Mistletoe Angel
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6 posted 2002-09-24 05:32 PM




(smiles) Oh Karilea, in part of my tradition the Grey Owl story has been widely told and cherished and the thought of being accepted among a whole different creed is fascinating to me and I only wish we could all accept each other that way! (big hugggsssss) This is wonderful, sweet friend, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Karilea, thank you for sharing!



May love and light always shine upon you!

Love,
Noah Eaton

"Underneath your clothes there's an endless story..."

Shakira

Madame Chipmunk
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since 2001-12-05
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Michigan
7 posted 2002-09-24 05:32 PM


A beautiful story... so very well presented, Karilea...
~ loving chipmunk hugs

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled"  Gwendolyn Brooks

Mysteria
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8 posted 2002-09-25 04:36 AM


I am from Manitoba in Canada, and Grey Owl was a huge part of our history as the first "Indian" environonmentalist.  Archie Balaney was studied in part of our history class in Grade 11, and he made a huge impression that has always stayed with me.  When I saw Pierce Brosnan was going to play Grey Owl in a movie, I doubted he could do it but I went to see the movie and give them credit as they did a great job of honoring a man who believed in the value of our land, and animals in relation to humans.  We need more like Archie Belaney, and more like you Sunshine that are willing to bring that consciousness alive every so often. Perhaps he was an imposter, but when his transformation was made to Grey Owl he was not shy about his views on the conservation of fur-bearing animals and the habitats that surrounded them and they proved decades ahead of their time. He actually lived with beavers to study their habits and it became legendary, as did the four films he produced about them. But I think what people forget about him most was his beautiful prose that is really worth a read.  When you read his work its hard to believe the time period was around 1930, and it reads like it was written today.  This was truly most enjoyable for me and I shall pull old Archie out tomorrow and give him a read.

God Bless
            
Sharon  



[This message has been edited by Mysteria (09-25-2002 04:54 AM).]

Mysteria
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9 posted 2002-09-25 04:46 AM


Opps forgot to take my copy to the library  

[This message has been edited by Mysteria (09-25-2002 04:47 AM).]

Nan
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10 posted 2002-09-25 09:32 AM


The very last stanza says it all... Nicely done, Sunshiny friend..
NewEnglandlazurlu
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A Mountain Paradise
11 posted 2002-09-25 09:58 AM


Your writing skills floor me every time Karilea. This piece is so outstanding. I would love to see this published and shared with many more. The words, the form, the haiku's. I stand in awe.

I have downloaded the story of Grey Owl and am anxious to read it later today. I also found Sharon's information on him fascinating.

Blessings for sharing such an important piece.  Hugs, Marti

Every now and then take a good look at something not made
with hands -- a mountain, a star, the power of the ocean.
There will come to you wisdom,

Seymour Tabin
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Tamarac Fla
12 posted 2002-09-25 10:12 AM


Sunshine,
Well done and I believe Sharon covers it prety well. Enjoyed this vry much.

Gentle Spirit
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Posts 13989

13 posted 2002-09-25 12:00 PM


Karilea this is a treasure m' friend.  Very well presented and splendid writing.  Thank you for the link as I am always looking to learn and study more than I already have.  

If I have touched one heart through my words, then I have acheived my dream...

Sudhir Iyer
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since 2000-04-26
Posts 6943
Mumbai, India : now in Belgium
14 posted 2002-09-25 12:16 PM


This is fantastic, my friend...

regards,
sudhir

bsquirrel
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15 posted 2002-09-25 01:47 PM


Beautiful work, Karilea.
I love the idea
of hearing his footsteps
on the wind.

Magician
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since 2002-08-14
Posts 126

16 posted 2002-09-25 01:50 PM


You always amaze me Sunshine.
Mysteria
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British Columbia, Canada
17 posted 2002-09-25 03:23 PM


I forgot to mention the names of the three best-selling books Grey Owl wrote while he lived in Prince Albert National Park: Pilgrims of the Wild (1935), Sajo and Her Beaver People (1935) and Tales of an Empty Cabin (1936), and the last in this list is exceptional.  I think we could all live by his saying, "We belong to nature, and not the other way around".  Can you tell I have a great deal of respect for an "imposter?"  His cabin is a landmark in Saskatchewan that draws thousands of tourists each year, so he was indeed a "good thing".  Here is the man, known as Grey Owl.

    

[This message has been edited by Mysteria (09-25-2002 03:37 PM).]

Sunshine
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18 posted 2002-09-25 03:34 PM


First, I want to thank everyone for their comments and mostly for those of you who knew some of Grey Owl and overlooked the "imposter" and saw the human beneath...

In answer to a question by one of our poets, here is what I told them...

~*~
A year ago I watched the show on one of the television stations that Pierce Bronson was in, portraying Grey Owl.  The whole concept fascinated me as I have long been a believer in the Indian way - I wrote a brief on Indian Law while taking paralegal classes in night school, and my professor, unbeknownst to me, was of Indian Heritage - no one else did anything other than brief law on the normal "stuff" - abortion, rape, etc., and I stretched out and touched on something else altogether.  She gave me an A...LOL...

so, when the movie came along, I watched it once, then a second time, then did a little research, and came up with the tribute.  
~*~

It saddened me that this man had to find his way in life because he seemed not to fit in the white man's world, and ultimately took on the Indian culture's ways in order to be at peace.  It saddened me even further to think that the Indian has always given of their culture to others...and have had so much of theirs taken from them.

Thank you, everyone, for taking this poem, as I perceive from your responses...to heart.

For that is where it belongs.


Auguste
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By the sea
19 posted 2002-09-25 03:40 PM


Very well penned, Karilea.  Being half Native American, this especially hit home for me.  Thank you!  

The stars will shine when I am gone,
the earth will turn on as before,
the gulls, still race along the shore,
the morning star, still kiss the dawn

Irie
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since 1999-12-01
Posts 1493
Washington State
20 posted 2002-09-25 04:44 PM


~*Foot Steps in the wind*~

I love it, this is beautiful!

~Sheri

"Don't wait for your ship to come in ...
Swim out to it"

*Stubby*
Member
since 2002-09-19
Posts 122

21 posted 2002-10-10 08:43 PM


One of my favourite reading is true history
much enjoyed thank you J

Bill Charles
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highways, & byways, for now
22 posted 2002-10-10 11:56 PM


Sunshine - you tell of Grey Owl magnificently...

BC

garysgirl
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23 posted 2002-10-11 12:22 PM


Karilea, this is absolutely magnificent....from the story, and the man behind the story, to all the comments so full of knowledge. I love the Indian culture, too, having some Indian heritage, myself. Thanks to all of you for sharing.
Love To All,
Ethel

Charisma
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lost in blue pages
24 posted 2002-10-11 02:19 PM


excellent penned, I have seen the movie over and over this week.....a man with his heart on the right place. Haven't read his books yet, but will do that soon. Thank you for sharing Karilea


((hugs)))
Charisma

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