»
Archives
»
Open Poetry #9
»
The Dead Speak
| Open Poetry #9 |
|
The Dead Speak |
|
|
jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas 
|
The Dead Speak "You have noticed that everything an Indian does is in a circle, and that is because the Power of the World always works in circles, and everything tries to be round…The sky is round, and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball, and so are the stars. The wind, in its greatest power, whirls. Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours....Even the seasons form a circle in their changing, and always come back to where they were. The life of man is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves." : Black Elk ~~~~>Oglala Sioux Holy man ~~~ The dead speak and the words they say dig deep…to the soul, agonizingly spreading truths that burrow through flesh and bone, heart and mind, truths so strong and evident that the blind see their wisdom, and the deaf hear the ageless cries of soul-speakers, caught in the timeless vortex of man's senseless inhumanity to man. ~~~ The dead speak so the living may hear, and learn, imbuing timeless knowledge, trial and error understanding, concepts learned, handed down through centuries, passed on from the great nations of the land, who understood, protected and loved, who instilled from generation to generation that all things were bothers, gifts to one another; all things were to be respected, and honored, used not abused, one under the Great Spirit's hand. ~~~ The dead speak, but the living, in their self-indulgent, self-idolizing, self-aggrandizing, self-complacent ways, have forgotten to listen. w.james beard, jr. [This message has been edited by jwesley (edited 09-13-2000).] |
||
| © Copyright 2000 Wesley James Beard, Jr. - All Rights Reserved | |||
|
serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
I almost got my rattle out for this... simple and wise and true, in the language of the spirit of the heritage...very impressive, I enjoyed much, oh shaman/poet... |
||
|
Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Excellently written and I agree completely. The dead know everything and do speak to us and, for the most part, we have indeed forgotten to listen..... |
||
|
Alle'cram Senior Member
since 2000-02-28
Posts 1816Texas |
..very beautifully created and written. May we heed your voice of wisdom and react accordingly. Thank you for this one. Marcy |
||
|
Fee Member
since 2000-08-07
Posts 381Melbourne, Australia |
If you listen hard enough you can hear, unfortunately we shake our heads and say to ourselves, Gee why did I say that, or what made me do that. We all have done this at some time in our lives. Your words touched me. Thank you. Fee Expressions, are the most important aspects, they create impressions |
||
Sven
since 1999-11-23
Posts 14937East Lansing, MI USA |
Exactly. . . which is why we must always be ready to listen. . . never thinking that we know all. . . Excellent. . . ------------------------------------------------------ That which gives light must endure burning --Victor Frankl |
||
|
jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas |
Serenity, didn't think of it that way but after re-looking I guess it does have kind of a chant like to it... Balladeer, in many ways we have, I think...and Marcy...Thank YOU! Well said Fee, and thanks to you, too, sven. |
||
|
Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
"The dead speak and the words they say dig deep…to the soul, agonizingly spreading truths that burrow through flesh and bone, heart and mind, truths so strong and evident that the blind see their wisdom, and the deaf hear the ageless cries of soul-speakers, caught in the timeless vortex of man's senseless inhumanity to man." WOW James! This is so powerfully stated ... excellent writing to compliment the wisdom behind this message ... so true! Wonderful writing here!  Best wishes, /Kit |
||
|
Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
So many lessons and stories are passed to us from our ancestors...and yes, we need to listen..wonderfully wise writing..enjoyed thoroughly! |
||
|
Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
James the dead speak, listen do I, as do you the dead speak, long after we are gone You shall be heard as I hope our words go on thank you Karilea When you want to be loved, look within...KRJ |
||
|
Butterflies_dont_cry Member Elite
since 2000-03-06
Posts 3733Michigan |
Amazing work...I loved your thoughts on this...haunting and comforting at the same time...Awesome!! |
||
|
jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas |
Thank you Kit, Martie, Sunshine, and BDC...(I love all your works by the way), indeed the dead do speak and the lessons they teach are many, but like teenagers, we think we know more and can do it better....so WHERE ARE all the forest today, and pristine streams, etc...I think our, humanities attitude today, towards the "old ones", is kinda like this poem states about kids/adults....> The Kids Small wonder that things aren't the same anymore. I mean, with the kids doing their own thing now. Mom and Dad are part of the past now. They are the ancient soothsayers whose knowledge is far surpassed by the wiser, smarter, kids. The kids, follicles of growth. Progeny gone wild. I pity the old. The old. The you and me. The parents that did their damnedest to nurture and protect, to imbue, to prepare them for the reality of living. We didn't fail. We just ceased to grow. At least, that's what the kids think. We stopped expanding. Became stagnant. And the kids left us stuck in the miasma of age, while they grew with the exuberance, the immortality of youth. The kids. Leonine novices, stylish parvenu, forgetting their roots. W. James Beard, Jr. jwesley [This message has been edited by jwesley (edited 09-14-2000).] |
||
Alison
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! |
As my Mom approaches death and I listen to her talk of her dreams and her memories, I hear the dead speaking to her. As they come to her, I learn because she shares with me what she is experiencing. I am so fortunate to have this time with my Mom ... and to have a mother who is loving enough to teach me how to die. She will be speaking to me for eternity. Alison |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
