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Open Poetry #36
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Survival in the Badlands
| Open Poetry #36 |
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Survival in the Badlands |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States 
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" Inspired by a Marty Stewart special on T.V. about the Native Americans that live in the Badlands of South Dakota on the Pine Ridge Reservation and their fight too survive" Survival In The Badlands By Paul Wilson Tree of hope stands alone with limbs outstretched in need A thousand years of battles defeat it will never concede Ground is cracked like skin of those who’ve seen a hundred summers come and go Life giving streams have turned too dust where once precious water use too flow Many will perish from lack of rain in this land that is tear stained Call on those who dance… light the fires of reprieve for those ordained Sing chants of hope for the weak like the tree they won’t concede Waehabe…Waehabe give us strength long life and courage we plead Across hot dry land… devil’s dance the dance of death with tumble weed Scavengers circle overhead patiently waiting for the feast of need Smell of death is in the air bones bleached white by the Sun For those too weak too fight their final journey has begun Tonenili…Tonenili God of rain answer our prayers we ask Fill the rivers and streams with water from your flask Prayers are said… chants are sung nothing left too do but wait... Darkness comes and embers glow A nation of people not knowing their fate Waehabe is the native American God of strength, long life and courage. Tonenili is the God of rain. ~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~ Paul [This message has been edited by Paul Wilson (08-13-2005 10:36 PM).] |
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| © Copyright 2005 Paul D. Wilson - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
I wish I could share this with my father... so I will do the second best thing, Paul... and share it with my brother. You see... those are "our" stomping grounds, too.  Thank you for this! |
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Startime55 Member Elite
since 2003-04-05
Posts 2148Alberta, Canada |
This poem is absolutely stunning...I could feel it deep in my soul...Magnificent writing...*big hugs* |
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Jason Lyle Senior Member
since 2003-02-07
Posts 1438With my darkling |
Love this, Great write. Jason |
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
Paul, this is an excellent piece! Makes me realize that I don't have it so bad. Great inspire! |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
I swear I read your title and thought you were talking about the surging crimewave here in New Orleans. sigh... And yet, after reading, I could still relate. Lovely write m'paullie, and yes, I do a rain dance, daily now too.  |
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
Paul, Bravo! Great poem... This poem scratches the surface of a great sin, against mankind, a crime against humanity...which George Bush and the presidents before him have ignored...These are the statistics that show how life is on the Pine Ridge reservation- Black Hills and Badlands- South Dakota, how the people there exist--even if the rains come, which would help but not cure the problem....these people will contiue to sufer... *Median income is $2,600 per year with 85% to 95% unemployment *Infant mortality rate 300% higher than the U.S. national average *Diabetes and Tuberculosis rates 800% higher than the U.S. national average *Elderly die each winter from hypothermia (freezing) *At least 60% of the homes are severely substandard, without water, electricity, adequate insulation, and sewage systems *School drop-out rate is 70% Recent reports state the average life expectancy is 45 years old while others state that it is 48 years old for men and 52 years old for women. With either set of figures, that's the shortest life expectancy for any community in the Western Hemisphere outside Haiti, according to The Wall Street Journal. *Teenage suicide rate on the Pine Ridge Reservation is 150% higher than the U.S. national average for this age group. *There is an estimated average of 17 people living in each family home (a home which may only have two to three rooms). Some homes, built for 6 to 8 people, have up to 30 people living in them. * The death rate from alcohol-related problems on the Reservation is 300% higher than the remaining US population. On and on and on....these atrocities are allowed to exist within the boundaries of our country while our president throws money that could at least bring them up to poverty level, down a rathole in the middle east.....grrrrrrr --------------ice ><> [This message has been edited by ice (08-13-2005 07:21 PM).] |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States |
Sunshine...Thanks so much for that little magic you did for me. I think the new title fits much better. I appreciate you taking time to help me and for reading and your reply. Feel free too share with anyone you wish...Paul ~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~ Paul |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States |
Startime55...Really glad you enjoyed this. Thanks for your touching reply...Paul ~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~ |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States |
Jason...Thanks very much for reading and your reply...Paul ~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~ |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States |
Dixie...You are so right. We take for granted how much we have and how well off we are until something like this slaps us into reality. Just read the reply of Ice and try to put ourselves in that position. Thanks for caring and for understanding...Paul ~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~ |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States |
Serenity...I knew there was a reason I moved away from the Big Easy, it got too hard trying too survive. LOL Thanks for understanding and for taking time too read and reply. Hay...I'm getting better with the to, too thing I hope thanks for that dear friend. You must be dancing around my house, cause it rains everyday...Paul ~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~ Paul |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States |
ice...What can I say, Your satistics are so touching but true. What they have too endure because of our government is terrible. They are the same as all of us and need help just like the rest of the world. Should we treat them with any less dignity than we are treated? Thank you so much for really putting the meat with my potatoes on this terrible situation...Paul ~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~ Paul |
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
Paul Your poem is the meat and spuds, I just added what came to my mind, that I had in a file. The stats are nothing but bitter herbs and all I had in mind was to add a pinch of spice... Which gave me a chance to vent my simmering outrage... Thank you again for the poem... ------------ice/ford ><> |
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garysgirl 
since 2002-09-29
Posts 19237Florida, USA |
Paul, I really enjoyed reading your poem. Native American history has a special place in my heart. I have family who lives on a reservation in Alabama. I'm part Native American, too. Thanks for sharing. Hugs, Ethel |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States |
ice...You are very welcome sir...Paul ~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~ |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States |
Ethel...So glad too hear from you. Glad that you enjoyed this and thanks for your kind reply...Paul ~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~ Paul |
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froggy Senior Member
since 2003-06-23
Posts 1893Michigan |
Very touching piece here. So many have to suffer in this country. Hugs to you. :-) <^^> Today the pond....Tomorrow the world |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States |
froggy...Thank you for understanding. Someday maybe our government will wake up and help those in need in America...Paul ~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~ |
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