ECHOES

This is a place of great peace,
A monument to the spiritual,
How sweet the fragrances
Of Mother Earth.
They spread throughout
The mountain's shelter,
Clinging to its ridges,
And bouncing on the breeze,
A celebration of life,
Of all that is good.

From here I can see above,
The cave where my chief and I
Became as one
...for the first time.
In our youngness
We could climb to such heights.
In age I can but remember
...and smile.
I am filled with memories
Of such joyful times.

I dabble my feet
In the clear water of the stream,
As it drifts in and out
Of the water-smoothed rock.
My heart leaps
As my recollections
Allow me to hear
The laughter of our youth
That is still reflected
From the canyon walls,
A cherished echo from the past.

My time for tears
...has ended,
I know he who holds my heart
Has gone before
...into the unknown realm,
To settle my place
On the Higher Plain.
For the Creator of All Things
Has promised us Eternity.

I have crept with reverence
into the Church of the white man.
Listened to the preacher,
And learned the words
of prayers and hymns.
But I am naive in such ways,
Do not understand why
The white man has their Church,
Imprisoned within walls
Of their own making.

I believe every moment
I am within the presence
Of the Great Spirit,
His Sanctuary surrounds me.
I am at one with all things
For we are all the creation
Of this Noble Chief and Father.

Sadness cannot live within
The heart of this thankful soul.
With raised arms
I shout silently
From the bowels
Of this beloved canyon,
And I listen to my echo
As it is carried back to me
On a friendly wind.

It is all reflection
...echoes.

[This message has been edited by SPIRIT (11-10-2008 04:43 PM).]