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Open Poetry #17
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They Say The Grass Never Grows (First Nations)
| Open Poetry #17 |
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They Say The Grass Never Grows (First Nations) |
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Mysteria 
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada 
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 *~I found a story in a journal of my Grandmother's yesterday morning. I am not sure if it a true story or not, but it was about the Algonquin Indians of Canada in the Prairies, of which she was a member. I have taken her writing, re-worded it, and reduced it into a poem for you to read about of a tribe obviously eliminated by small pox *~ ~ They Say The Grass Never Grows ~ To this day they say the grass never grows. Warriors wearing the paint of sorrow, rode, walked and were carried towards the hills, into the Sun of Fire. There was no water for their journey, only tainted water, with the fire of the white man, which savagely killed them, in body and spirit forcing them to leave the home of their forefathers. The air was so thick with elders's sorrow, and echoes of children speaking the white man’s word. Their women cried tears of grief, while chanting to spirits above for a blessing. What was left of a once proud tribe journeyed into the Sun of Fire with only some pride and a few possessions, to save what was left of their forefathers. Each inhaled breath brought familiar scents of pine and pungent sage, but no recollections could ease the pain or stifle their pent up bitter outrage. Through piles and piles of buffalo skulls, the sage hens, and prairie dogs scrambled shrieking at the blood chilling changes, that no medicine man could ever cure. They passed miles of skeletons of what once provided their food, clothing, and shelter from the wind in days when their life held honor. Their way of life was done. They would hunt no more. Left behind was their fight with soldiers, and the bullets they used to kill their spirit. They wore the war paint of the defeated. Their skill could not fight the pox-fire that ravaged their village with its death, killing more than half their people. Death now had seeped into their soil where pine and sagebrush grew; and their blood had stained the memory of every lodge they had ever known. Blood flowed over their prairies, into the rivers, sun and moon. So many tears were shed in their hearts, but they knew now their trip was done. As night fell warriors held council, sacrificing their animals over a cliff to He Who Cares to save their people in this trip across the prairie. In the distance, the wolves cried in sorrow, as history was about to made around them. Women cried to the spirits in vain, as thirst strangled their hearts and souls. They say to this day the grass never grows, but sweats tears of remembrance at this site, for the tribe who died of small pox. The proud Algonquin who died in The Sun Of Fire. Art: Denton Lund Music: Zuni ~*~ Carpe' Diem ~*~ [This message has been edited by Mysteria (edited 11-23-2001).] |
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| © Copyright 2001 Mysteria 1997 - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
I have seen the small pox grow upon my son and daughter so I have seen the weak grow pale I have seen them slip the vale No green grass shall grow again though the tears will fall like rain the mark of pox still shows I fear on this face I'm forced to wear [This, from me, to you...] |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
On Sunny One if only I could sing your words to do it justice, thank you! ~*~ Carpe' Diem ~*~ |
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bslicker
since 2000-12-04
Posts 2321state of mind |
Wow what a story that was told here. Great job, i am sure the complete story was well wrote for you to read. Bernie  A smile a day keeps the world in smile's. |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Such an incredibly sad tale of the erasure of an entire nationality. You do it justice, Sharon.... |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
bslicker and Balladeer ~ Thank you so much for reading this rather long tale. To anyone else reading, if I don't thank you right away - I am getting a new computer system set up today, so might be offline for a bit - but will certainly appreciate your time in reading and will get my "thank you note" done when I can. Thank you for understanding. ~*~ Carpe' Diem ~*~ |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
My ancestry isn't native American - My grandparents were immigrants - yet I empathize with every word you speak, my friend... Your words - spoken to you from your grandmother - hold a wisdom that is ageless...  |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
Beautifully done Sharon! Hauntingly sad. ~hugs, Nancy~ ~Life may not be the song you requested, |
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Flutterwings Member
since 2001-07-10
Posts 288Maine |
A solemn, plaintif read. How you can go to the core of someone's feelings and poetically display vivid imagery always amazes me. Altho, wistful, I enjoyed the melancholy, lyrical flow. Kudos! Love and peace Maggie ((~.~)) |
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AJ MacNeil Junior Member
since 2001-05-02
Posts 40 |
This certainly was haunting, and very moving to read Sharon .. Thankyou, Andy |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
I am so glad you liked this story, as I found it hand-written by my Gramma on sheets of paper (rather a long story) and tried to condense it for easier reading into a poetic style. Thanks so much to all of you. ~*~ Carpe' Diem ~*~ |
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Martha Cowan Member
since 2001-03-08
Posts 240Groves, Texas |
A chilling and most powerful message, Sharon. And coming from the ancestory I am born of...this particullary spoke to my heart and my spirit. This left me with goose bumps all over...thank you for sharing such an aweseome and incredible account of the Native American history. Hugs and much love to you, always, ~*~dawn~*~ |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Thanks for reading it Dawn, wanted to get it put on the net for safe keeping. Wow, you should see the stuff I found in an old box belonging to my gramma, too cool~ ~*~ Carpe' Diem ~*~ |
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Titia Geertman Member Ascendant
since 2001-05-07
Posts 5182Netherlands |
This is really a treasure you found in this box of your gramma Sharon. Thank you so much for sharing Titia A rose is a rose is a rose...I guess... |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
It is easy to see how your gramma's spirit lives in you. What a wonderful Treasure Box you have found. Thank you for sharing!I spent some time this morning reading through some First Nations prayers, searching for a special poem for a friend. A Choctaw prayer entitled 'Sun Tracks' http://www.homestead.com/spirithorse/pg4.html |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Thank you both ladies, and I have found enough inspiration to last a lifetime in this wooden box, if I ever get the time to sit here and attack it LOL Thank you.~*~ Carpe' Diem ~*~ |
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