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Chief Joseph
| Open Poetry #29 |
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Chief Joseph |
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Abe Senior Member
since 2003-05-28
Posts 694Looks like Vero Beach, FL until the end! 
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CHIEF JOSEPH The land of Winding Waters In the place known as Oregon - Sacred land deeded to them At the first rising of the sun - These Nez Perce, people of Joseph Were the heart of their homeland - Where the great eagle soared the sky Above treetops of forests, grand - Where ponies grazed the green glade And naked boys, mounted bareback Laughing and shouting happily Raced to some certain place and back - Young bodies glistening with droplets Of crystal, cool water that cools - Bronze skin drying in bright sunlight On sandbars of eddying pools - A land of peace and contentment Where man could walk, proud and free - Where his roots grew deep into the Earth - Where heart and soul would always be - They would fish for the great Salmon On their homeward river run Bound, with great determination To where their life had first begun - Something in their blood akin to mans' When he has long been on the roam - Some compelling force within That leads him back to his home - They seemed insurmountable - Those obstacles to be leapt - But only death would stop his trek To where heart and soul were kept. The Salmon jumped high from the water - Buried 'neath the Earth the Camas roots - Herds of Buffalo across the mountains Known as the Bitterroots It truly was a land of plenty - Blessed by the Great Chief in the sky And loved by the Nez Perce people Born there to live until they'd die - It was home, their heritage - Where their forefathers' wisdom Echoed from the Burial Grounds Which was listened to and done - Around campfires Chiefs told stories Of the paleface searching for the sea - How, Chief Twisted Hair drew a map To show them where it might be - They returned with tales of conquests Which still live until this day - Of how this Indian Nation helped Lewis and Clark find their way. A peaceful tribe like most Who tried to share with the white man - Until the forked-tongued ones Tried to force them from their land - Under the flag of truce - Fired on by those in blue - Chief Joseph gave the war cry Of the battle that ensued - Nearly three months of fighting As the Nez Perce tried to flee To the safety of Canada Where they hoped they could be free - But the bluecoats kept on coming - And despite their valiant fight Joseph bowed in surrender On one cold September night. He said, "Most of our Chiefs are killed And too many Braves lay dead." As he cast down his rifle He raised his blanket o'er his head - He said, "My heart is sick and sad. Our children freeze in the weather. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more, forever." Placed on far-off reservations And finally back to the Northwest - Never to return to Wallowa The land they loved, the best - One hundred-fifty of them left Sent to the Colville Reservation - Sentenced to a life of poverty Was another Great Indian Nation. In the year of nineteen hundred-four Chief Josephs' Spirit did depart - And a doctor who examined him Said, "He died of a broken heart." In this story lies a moral And a shameful legacy That to this day defiles the words, "The Land Of The Free!" This was inspired by the book with the same title by Robert Penn Warren ("ALL THE KING'S MEN")Mr. Warren was kind enough to critique it for me before his death. Poem also appears in my book. Del "Abe" Jones |
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| © Copyright 2003 Del - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Gentle Spirit Member Patricius
since 2000-10-09
Posts 13989 |
I studied this in school and did a term paper on it, and in later years wrote a poem entitled "I will fight no more, forever." A very interesting story full of native heritage and this poem does him and them a great justice. Very well done! |
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Kaoru
since 2003-06-07
Posts 3892where the wild flowers grow |
Wow.. I'm in awe. |
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Marty Baird Member
since 2003-09-20
Posts 90Georgia, U.S. |
Thanks well worth the time to read. |
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Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
AbeMyFriend~ This is a wonderful chronicle of events of that time~ I just finished a series of stories on the Nez Perce people and have a poem-in-the-making of one of the young girls of the tribe~ ENJOYED this very much~ *Huglets* ~*Marge*~ ~*When the heart grieves over what it has lost, |
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dingusjr Member
since 2003-09-24
Posts 415Missouri |
As a student of western history, I enjoyed your Chief Joseph poem... You captured both the facts and the mood...thanks! Larry |
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icebox Member Elite
since 2003-05-03
Posts 4383in the shadows |
Excellent work, thank you for sharing it here. |
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angelblueyes Member Elite
since 2003-07-19
Posts 2148Oklahoma |
Excellently penned.  Crystal |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Abe...this is so well done, interesting from a historical view, and poignant from the heart....much enjoyed! |
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QjQ Member Elite
since 2003-04-18
Posts 3756U.S.A. |
Fabulous,,,, |
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n2dmystic Member
since 2003-09-27
Posts 253beyond the doors of perception |
awesome, awe inspiring, and aw shoot, I wish I had written this. As I started I was building my reply in my head. and you stole my reply: ""My heart is sick and sad. Our children freeze in the weather. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more, forever." Ah ho, cousin Peace, Joe |
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Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
  (big hugggsssssss) It absoluely saddens me how such atrocities can curse their people and my Cherokee ancestors and too many other brothers of mine! (wipes tears) That is not the Land of the Free and never will be, and I fear for he future also, God Bless You, I pray for all my brothers nationwide, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Del, thank you for sharing! May love and light always shine upon you! Love, Noah Eaton I don't need no proof when it comes to God and truth |
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