Native Americans - Part 4
To keep our native rights,
so many of us died.
Praise to the one who fights,
at least he knows he tried.
For cavalry we'd scout,
we believed in those who led.
Reading 'signs' when they had doubt,
seeing details in the tread.
Reservations then were planned,
to say where we could live.
White men didn't own the land,
so it wasn't theirs to 'give'...
Clasp of poetic verses used,
as more treaties they'd prepare.
More of our rights abused,
we were rarely treated fair.
It took many years of course,
for agreement to be reached.
With a constant threat of force,
'Please don't do this.' we beseeched.
300 years of give and take,
throughout which we lost land.
1876 – the break,
a bloody, glorious 'Last Stand'.
Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull,
had watched our people penned.
Felt the urge of battle pull,
Little Bighorn was the end...
Custer came with soldiers blue,
no intention of retreating.
Taking on Cheyanne and Sioux,
he took a fatal beating.
Annihilated then we were,
first one tribe then another.
We've forever stayed aware,
of strangers who say, 'brother'.
Then left were the remains,
of a glorious past we'd had.
Before we knew the pains,
of friendship that's gone bad.
Our peoples' concentrated,
all into reservations.
To integrate we waited,
to working life's low stations.
Through modern education,
some went at with a will.
Some to forces of the nation,
because of native skill.
Modern times in World War 2,
Navajo 'marines' were used.
Ancient tongue no-one knew,
left the enemy confused.
'Wind-talkers' were the name,
allotted to these men.
They didn't fight for fame,
but for 'nation' once again.
Now I stand in Yellowstone,
beside my ice-cream van.
But I don't feel alone,
I'm a proud American.
Please read each chapter made,
and tell this to your kin.
To our gods we always prayed,
a potential peace to win.
In my will I've named a spot,
where eagles dare to fly.
The land my tribe has bought,
where I'll be buried when I die.
Smoke from my pyre will fly,
with the whisper of the wind.
God is just, he'll hear our cry,
and he knows who has sinned.
So in summary I say,
guiding winds will treat us well.
We will never fade away,
we've already been to hell...
*
The End... of this series,
not of a proud and wonderful people.
This series is dedicated to the memory
of Geronimo, Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull.
and Native Americans past and present.
*
Written to include:
Series Challenge 4
Host: Tiny Teddy
and
All Stars
Host: Xrifles
Phrase: clasp of poetic verses
and
Fill in the Blank
Host: Jollynoblefrog
Phrase: 'whisper' ...of the wind
and
Brain Tease
Host: Blind_Poet
Word: potential
and
Tuning Up
Moderator: Tiny Teddy
Midi: Indian Reservation
and
Simplicity
Moderator: Kajuncutie
Phrase: guiding winds
and
Free Verse
Host: Amazingkate
Phrase: the remains
of a glorious past
and
Catch the Soaring Star
Host: Tiny Teddy
Phrase: each chapter made
and
Follow the Dream
Host: Macwriter
Phrase: praise to the one
By Tomfoollery
© 2010 Tomfoollery
(All rights reserved)
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