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Greasy Grass
| Open Poetry #24 |
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Greasy Grass |
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kayjay Member Elite
since 2002-06-24
Posts 2015Oregon |
Greasy Grass How the blood ran red in the land of dead on the plains called Greasy Grass As the sun burned down on hallowed ground and the lives that soon would pass Now the Powder and Tongue have their praises sung in the land of the buffalo As these rivers allowed the fiercely proud for to wander to and fro. Now they plotted and swore, the men of war, in that old Chicago town And this time around, as though it’s their ground, we will take these plainsmen down We’ll have Gibbon east on both foot and beast and old Crook from South can too And then from this river we will send a shiver of the fear of men in blue. As Phil Sheridan sent, so the army went in their search of warring Sioux Since we need the gold that the land does hold and thus we will get it too As the law does say that so they will stay on the lands we’ve set aside And the reservation will suit their nation and it’s there they will abide. Twas a night in June ‘neath a bright full moon where the soldiers camped and sang. While the horses nickered and some men snickered and the thought of battles rang. In the early morn would there come the horn of the bugle loud and clear But now first came thought of the ones they fought and the life they held so dear. They had come from Dakota to find the Lakotah, the Sioux, they called them then. It was up and saddled, their bones they rattled and rode, these cavalry men. They had crossed the miles with their grins and smiles and the man with the golden hair. Who had vowed to fight ‘gainst the Indians’ right to their homes with the buffalo there. Now the Northern Cheyenne, with both family and man, were there camped with Teton Sioux For the Sun Dance rite in the summer light for these peoples proud and true. Such a moment sublime in that place and time was the core of their belief They gathered around on their sacred ground; from the white man sought relief A meandering river does wind with a quiver under skies of dust and haze. While both horse and pony eye the ceremony the while they play and graze. The tribe’s at rest, they’re feeling blest by the dreams of Sitting Bull. Where the soldiers die with a scream or sigh, and comes a warring lull. Then came the yawn of a summer dawn on the banks of Rosebud Creek ”Let us up and ride” as a sergeant cried, “and so find this tribe we seek” And the men rolled out mid a curse and shout from their bedrolls sweaty damp For the scouts of Crow was who soon would know of the place where warriors camp With the creak of leather in sunny weather and the tune of “Garry Owen” How the troopers rode out with no fear or doubt for to risk their muscle and bone. Over two hundred long, so the column was strong as they snaked the mountain through. With a charge and roar on the valley floor, how the bullets and arrows flew. There’s a feeling of dread while the soldiers bled from the tribe of Crazy Horse And the leaders knew that they’d come to rue of the power of Indian force That would not be still in the valley and hill while they roamed both proud and free. Still we know the tale and strong men wail for the Seventh Cavalry. And we know of might, of the Indian fight in the place called “Greasy Grass” And we know today, and from all who say, as the battle came to pass. That for those who would roam with a tepee home that that life had lost its luster And the Little Bighorn would hold the scorn and the bones of General Custer. [This message has been edited by kayjay (01-15-2003 03:41 PM).] |
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| © Copyright 2003 Ken Julkowski - All Rights Reserved | |||
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zenny Member
since 2002-11-24
Posts 371Belgium |
enjoyed  The greatest thing u'll ever learn |
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Cpat Hair
since 2001-06-05
Posts 11793 |
nicely told... I enjoyed the read...and the perspective |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
WOW Ken! This is amazing! Turns out you are quite the storyteller. Now...will you teach me how to rhyme.. and get the rhythm?  ~Hugs & Smiles, Nancy~ ~Time has cast a spell on you, |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Ballads will always be good, and some will give me shivers... and you get five stars! |
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Mistletoe Angel 
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
 (big hugggsssssss) Sitting Bull is one story that has deeply touched my heart all my life, with my Cherokee heritage and profound ancestry I share a love for these folk stories! (sigh) God Bless You, sweet friende, thank you for proclaiming this for us all, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Ken, 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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