On The Trail

Those who Dreamed Spirit winds...
play the melody
as drums beat the rhythm
of silenced heartbeats....

Sand Creek...
Wounded Knee...
Faceless silent dead
Whose screams are never heard....

Another time..
another place...
that never comes...
never leaves...
always there...
Which hearts can hear this?

It does not take a designated blood quorum...
Does anyone care?
Or does the daily existance
of this life silence the heart
to sob anymore?

Who cares that a woman's breasts were cut off
and worn as a ornament to decorate a soldier's hat?
Does anyone cry over the death of that breastless dreamer?

We have told the stories...
Shared our fires...
Given warnings....
And in the silence of the mountains

I hear the whispers of the winds...
who say ....
It shall be played again....
No one knows how to light the fires anymore...
to warm the spirits....

I stand against the winds and
touch the heart of Grandfather Sky
who weeps and bow my head as I see
that flag of protection fluttering in the winds

as they stood....
slaughtered as the buffalo...
dying....
still believing.....
But no one hears their songs anymore....
and i wish....
Someone knew how to light the fires
for it is so very cold....
without protection from the winds.

Layingbear Anderson 02/2001

What has become of the word respect?
Is there none left today?
Is there nothing you would honor?
If we were digging up your cemetary, What would you say?

These bones of old may mean nothing to you.
But herein resides our ancestors.
Resting in these most sacred sites.
We are here as their protectors.

You say these roads and stores are progress.
But it is not thru your cemetary you cross.
Your people lie in complete rest.
Ours is not your loss.

You have driven us from our lands before.
This we knew would be.
Can we not finally be at peace?
Is there nothing Holy you can see?

Look into your hearts this day.
And all the others to come.
What will you see within?
What are you to become?

This greed of man is an evil thing.
But seems to rule your heart.
Its never too late to make a change.
Now's the time to start.

Stop the destruction of our people, our lands.
Stop and close this door of sin.
Let us all gather to pray.
It is time for a new day to begin.

Have you not seen within yourselves.
The destruction you have wrought.
Only in the name of progress.
For roads to be made and gee gaws can be bought?

Our people wish only to live in peace.
And honor how we were taught.
To show respect for all things.
Its so little the things we've sought.

There's been enough of hate and greed.
New seeds must now be planted.
But through these deeds like this you do.
Taking this thing called progress for granted.

We gave and gave and had more stolen.
Just to please this greed.
But now is the time to take a stand.
And respect us in our need.

These sites to us are still most Holy.
And these bones that lie within.
Show the respect you would like returned.
Let the healing begin.

The road we have traveled has often been hard.
Your progress making it even more so.
Remove us once again?
We are saying, "NO!"

© Awiunegusdi Shelar 04/02/2001