Great Spirit of the earth,
the sun, moon, stars and skies,
grant our people revival
and help them dry their eyes.
Reservations, growing poorer;
families living in their cars,
maidens rearing up the young
while braves are at the bars.
Bring us back the wholesome ways,
when Red Man lived in peace.
Give to us our just rewards
and make our hunger cease.
Oppression of our native tongue,
English we must speak.
Forgotten language in our dreams
in hopes we will grow weak.
Hundreds of years, have come to pass;
you’d think we’d act all white.
But red blood drops are too concealed
we have that inner fight.
Bring us into visions;
tell us ...
“how, do we fit in”?
Revive our minds and bodies
and the color of our skin.
~
FifthDove - Shawnee Nation
Author notes
Bkgrd made by Dove, free to use on AllPoetry only
In a list
A contest entry
- five spaces for prewrites! by individuality.
600 points, ended March 22, 2008, 5 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 16 of 16
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Wow. This was beautiful, and I love the strength that it emits. You have a beautiful culture, and this poem represents it well.
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ah culture - we lsoe so much in our rush to be in the here and now and fit in - it is a shame for lots is lost. a good poem, thanks for entering
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HOODWINKED !!!
Fifth Dove,
Words so sad but wise, a prayer for renewal and self determination that needs to be sought after. May the Great Spirit refresh the tribes in new vision, identity and purpose. Good thoughtful write, Niaish for sharing.
You have been Hoodwinked by the Poetic Bandits today because WE CARE!
Dennis (Gray Elk)
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The Red Indians have been persecuted by the invaders for many a year. It is time for revenge! Hopefully!
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WOW,a great and thoughtfull prayer you have penned!You discribe your people's situation clearly,it makes me sad to read this.A important subject you stressed in the fourth stanza: the surpressing of your own language.I stongly hope it will not get lost,so keep going speaking your own tongue,I guess all your stories and culture is based on it.Well done! Erwin
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I feel that inner fight inside of me sometimes, In my life whenever i have felt overwhelmed something deep inside me gets me through. Im pretty sure it my ancestors blood running in my veins
Beautiful background fantastic poem
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Outstanding!
A much expressed and encompassing piece, you certainly have a gift of weaving a poetic story, one which we should never forget...A beautifully composed poem...engaging with a powerful message within
The background is fantastic and shows a lot of work and thought, it compliments your poem perfectly...
Much love...~Sis
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This is beautiful and all I can say is WOW! Thank you for showing us this beautiful art!
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Beautiful Dove. Reminds me so of the native poetry of an American friend Marge Tindal. She has published a wonderful book last year, full of Native American poetry. Here are her websites:
http://marge.netpoets.net/
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wowwwwwww Dove sis this is a great write and the background is awsome they blend together so perfik
xxx cheeky xxx
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Wow, just no words to describe this piece other then incredible, fantastic, outstanding, beautiful, amazing, and just wow!
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Poignant and deeply real yet spiritual. Wonderful rhythm and rhyme. It is deeply shameful and a blot on our nation how the "white man" has treated people of color, and it continues. We all suffer for it.
The last stanza says it all.
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Wow! that was deep, moving and brilliant! I love it! great meter, rhyme, form function and impact. I see nothing to pick at here, and the message is quite clear. BTW, love your new face picture, that is beautiful too. The background for this is superb. Awesome job!
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So beautiful and emotional. Great job on the poem and the background. My mama is so talented and brilliant!
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Excellence
My favorite stanza
Bring us into visions;
tell us ...
“how, do we fit in”?
Revive our minds and bodies
and the color of our skin.
You are a gifted poetess
I am honored to have met you
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Wow, Cindy... what an impressive and strong poem/prayer. It's sad when a group of any descent are put in a position of losing their identity, whether it be through attrition, schooling, govornment control or any other means. If people would only realize that holding on to tradition and differences is an important part of each of our lives...
An excellent piece, and I love the background with it
Dee
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