Here I stand upon this cliff
With hands raised to the sky
Silent tears steadily fall
For my people who have died
My tears fall for the women
Who's children have been slain
For the husbands and the fathers
Never to return again
And tears fall for the life,
This path they made us follow
Broken homes and families
Left alone and hollow
I cry for the white man
Who knows not what they've done
Just doing as they're told
And come along with guns
I'm crying for the memory
And for all that has changed
The heritage of red man
Will never be the same
Tears fall for the sinners
That they somehow know our pain
As they drove us from our land
Made us feel their shame
I cry for the peace
In which we'll never see
I cry for you, Creator,
As I fall upon my knees
I pray you hear the silence
Screaming from my soul
No longer am I here
My life is what they stole
Creator, hear my call
For the storms to come today
And as I cry these tears,
They wash the pains away
Author notes
Photo: Summoning the Storm
Artist: David Penfound
Written July 20th, 2006
In a list
A contest entry
- Prewrite Mania for MY FAVORITES!!!!!!!!! by Celticmoon.
700 points, ended November 2, 2007, 16 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 13 of 13
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Dena,
Your words are powerful and bring forth a message I can only hope many hear and realize. Let today be a day of healing and coming together to wash away the pains of the past and release the shame we once bore. Let us hold our heads high and live together in peace today as we should have all along. Electrifyingly Powerful! Thank you for entering and good luck!
Blessings
Bel
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The loss to Earth, immense...
The loss of Native American lives, lore and love, is an immense loss for mankind and mother earth. I am ashamed for my white heritage for virtually erraticating a great society.
My most favorite book is "The Soul of the Indian", by Dr. Charles Eastman born Ohiyesa of the Santee Sioux.
I feel your pain and my shame innyour beautiful poem.
In peace and in the love of the Great Spirit may we walk as brothers and sisters for the rest of our days.
Buddy
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Thank you for the comments,so very appreciate it. I believe that the time has come that we all can be as one again.
Storm
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what a heartfelt write. One can feel the pain in each line
. I do not think that there is a thing that we [the white man]could do to atone for the atrocities committed by us against those of a different race and or culture. Sometimes I am ashamed to be of the white race and I can only hope that many others feel the same. Maybe by carrying this shame we can speak out and act, so things like those that happened will never happen again. We really can not undo the past, but the future does lie in our hands and in the hands of those that come after us. I also have a serious problem with finding very little truth in history books....and what there is , is sometimes just gone over very briefly. We need to know the truth , we need to see the graphics in order to comprehend. We need to be reminded , and this write of yours did just that. Keep writing these worthwhile words from your heart and soul, for within them lie the voices that have been silenced.
z
reenie
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Thank you Reenie, appreciate your comments. Your words are so true. I often battle one side of my heritage against the other, in mind anyways. And no history books are not always near truthful, infact I am having that fight with my son's teacher right now.
Storm
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Chris, I cried when I wrote it, and I cry every time I read it. It reminds me of so many things, and yes, it reminds me of your dad. I miss him, and pray for the best.
Love ya kiddo
Aunt Autumn -
Damn, this brought a tear to my eye. How touching. Such a tribute to the people, and I love that graphic. You did this very well, again. Between this one and the one I saw from Jay, you guys need to read these to dad. He will hear them, I know it.
Love you
Chris -
As am I. And I feel the pain for my people, and all our ancestors that have struggled and paid with their lives. It is truly a shame, and it is my hopes that some day, people will learn.
Thank you for the comments, appreciate it.
Storm -
iam indian
this is a good poem thank you
the indian people do stillfeel pain
especialy about how the earth is being destroyed now
soonto be without natural resources
its a sad world
great poem
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Thank you hun, I appreciate your words. And I know what this means to you as well.
Storm -
Autumn, this is just amazing. Though the words ring through as sad, and so very true, you have written this with such beauty. You've taken the soul to literal terms here, and created a masterpiece of truth. I find this very touching. Superior poem babe.
-Jay -
Tang, I had seen this pic and a poem came to mind immediately. But I wanted to run the contest first. I posted this after I judged my contest.
Thank you for your wonderful comments. I always appreciate your words.
I do have another contest running with a native theme, though a little bit different than this one. So I will be posting that one when that contest is over as well.
Storm -
Dear StormGoddess,
What an honor for the true owners of our land! Swindled and murdered instead of learning the peace that should have kept our planet beautiful!
I see where you are running a contest with this same theme - I don't think any will compare to what you've done here as a dedication.
Marvelous work!
Tang
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