Who knows how many fell,
On the walk that way?
A trail remembering 4,000…
Those originals of this troubled land
Its’ native clans’ forced by some rocky ways
Has any soul kept its’ count?
That insidious “One-Drop rule”…
How many dripped down through the ages?
And those “Black Codes” of 1800s relic
Tears trail these cheeks…
I never met the Lakota Sioux at
“Wounded Knee”
Or the Cherokee Nation on its’
“Trail of Tears”
And no one knows how many drops are in me…
Yet I cry…
I cry for my own soul
I cry for those
Who fell before their tears (hit the ground)
My mixed ancestry shivers in me
What of all those ebony drippings?
Leaving its’ trailing tears…
Author notes
Just had a fleeting thought...then it wouldn't 'fleet' away (lol). I think my work on ancestry-stuff roused this...?
In a list
Comments
1 - 36 of 36
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beautiful!!
this is a really nice peace of work...you had me thinking of my own tears..touching! well done
juliet
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You surprise me with these wonderful, thoughtful comments. Thanks so much for the visits. I feel touched by your words tonight. I'm so glad to see you liked this (it's one of my personal favorites).
AsIThink...
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BRAVO! BRAVO!
I hear ya...i could barely stand it myself...when
standing upon that ground...the beauty of the land
was bold and vivid...and "knowing" the march of the
walk ...filled me such emotion i asked my hubby to please
take me out of this place...it was just too overwhelming.
ears/Seattle
way to write and inspire us deeply!
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You are indeed being modest, for this is an exceptional write, full of anguish and questions that cannot be answered but by asking, they raise an awareness in the reader. This is truly an enjoyable read. Well done.
Rory
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Wow, thank you so much for this read. I am honestly humbled by your comments. I read your work (that short story...and it was one heart-wrenching read). So to see you here, saying what you just said is great to hear. I had not yet had the chance to send you that link (I was searching for another piece I had but can't recall the name...O well). Thanks again.
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Man Moved and...
didn't follow the rules of truth. Took over with lies and his own desease. Not an ounce of English nor French in me. Always thought alittle french. Mom said nope. Scottish, Swedish and alittle native. A pinky full by now.
Rumors among the family my ancesters were all hellraisers and kept getting kicked out of countries until they ended up here. hahahaha... luckly they finally all died the law could breath easy.
Anyways really though on the serious note. This is some wicked poem. Not one funny thing about what happened to those people.
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Thank you so much for this thoughtful feedback. This piece was important to me. I had been doing some geneaology stuff and sitting with a good friend of mine who is just about finished with his book on the subject. My mind was flooded and I realized that releasing this was better for me than holding it in...Yeah, nothing funny about what happened in this situation. Really appreciate your wonderful comments.
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This is so beautiful, it brings clarity to the sound of distant drums for me. That's how it makes me feel.
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Wow...thank you very much. Thank for reading this piece; for stopping by my page. I really appreciate this. I'm happy that you let me know how this affected you. I'll return the favor very soon...
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This was magnificent! Bravo...well done! I love the trail you blazed! This read should force readers to seek knowledge of self as well as those who actually came before them. Great job! Read your history or it'll end up "his story"!
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wow that's a great poem
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Thanks so much for your kind words. I also thank you for these recent visits and adding me to your favs list. I've got a lot of feedback from you and promise to return the favor very soon...(God-willing).
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This piece really touched me. First of all the title just caught my attention and the words that followed were extraordinary. You spoke honestly and with true conviction to your beliefs. A pleasure to read.
Soulful Woman
. Rewarded 4
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Incredibly moving itself, this comment sends me to my reflection-pool; I feel humbled by this. My intent was for a 'from-the-guts/soul' outpour that was tugging at the fringes of my soul. I'm deeply appreciative of your lovely comments here. Thank you very much.
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Very Good!!
Your poem is very good! I appreciate the fact that you acknowledge the ancestors. For without them we would not be. -
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Well said. Thank you so much for the thoughtful consideration and feedback.
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Beautifully Written!
Wow..This is an amazing write! It is so full of emotion, and I can feel the depth of the pain throughout Nice job! Blessings, Patty
. Rewarded 4
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Wow...you have touched me deeply and I'm so happy that this touched you the way it did. I know it wasn't a mere exercise to post this...what I never imagined is that it could have the effect it seems to have had so far. Thanks for honoring me here...
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i love dis poem but i dont get it..... oh well i get it inuff 2 say its good!!! lols xxxx
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Well, either way I'm really glad that you responded to this and loved it. I'm honored by this comment. Thanks so very, very much.
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Great poem speaking volumes on the past. It is so true that our ancestors have suffered, no matter who our ancestors are, they have paved the way for us. Great write!
. Rewarded 4
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I tip my hat to you...this is a heartfelt response to something that almost leaped out of my heart onto the keypad. I appreciate this wonderful feedback. Thank you very much.
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Beautifully melancholly.
I have a bit of Cherokee ancestry, so I really felt this one. Respect to all that have come and fallen before us. Amazing.
. Rewarded 4
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Thank you very much for this warm, unexpected feedback. I'm very honored by it. Glad you could relate/feel this. It makes me gald to have posted it. Thanks again for the visit and comments.
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YOU HAVE TOUCHED MY HEART WITH SO MUCH COMPASSSION, WOW I READ IT A COUPLE OF TIMES BECAUSE IT IS SOOOO BEAUTIFUL. GOD BLESS YOU MY FRIEND...
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It's you, who have touched me. This is an incredibly rewarding comment. This makes this piece more important to me. Thank you very much for your kindness to me here.
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I am 1/8 Choctaw, ancestors from Alabama. My Great grandfather was a Medicine Man. Very influential in his community. This poem touched the core of me. I love the title. I have felt these "ebony drippings", long before they touched the dirt of my beginnings. Excellent work here dear poet. Thanks for the invite! I hope you don't mind me adding you to my "favorites list".
Renee
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Wow...you have paid me this huge honor. Thank you very much for making this trip here. A friend of mine has a book he's almost finished (not poetry-ancestry/history) that I've been following through to near-completion. It has moved me way past "go"... I also thank you for a peek into your history and the 'core of you' that this poem touched. I'm humbled...I hope you don't mind me adding you to MY "favorites list" as well.
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That's what was so wonderful
about being Americans...we have many voices of dna,
and ancestory that whispers poetically in our souls
for release. I really enjoyed this poem and was
haunted too by how you wrote it...asking the those
ebony dripping questions...
well done! well done!
ears/Seattle
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You really are an incredible commentor (and poetic too...lol). What fantastically, flattering remarks... I feel honored. I appreciate your interest in my work. Thank you very much.
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very good!!!!!!! i really enjoyed it alot.
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Thank you very much. I'm touched by this wonderful comment. Glad you enjoyed it...
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Simply Amazing!
Very well done! OMG! This is so great! This piece is very powerful. I also have "Native American" blood, so this is something I feel strongly about. This is a very beautiful piece, most sad, and very well thought. Wonderful write here. I can't even come up with the things that seem appropriate to say! Well penned Dear Poet!! Bravo, Bravo, Bravissimo!
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Thank you very, very much. I think you just did come up with the words. Your comments are deeply touching. I feel a sense of excitement about how this piece has been received (I have shared it with a few other people offline). If no one else said a single thing about this again, I wouldn't feel any less honored than I do right now. Thanks a million for the review and appreciation.
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OH MY GOD
THIS IS POWERFUL! I have to hold back the choked-up feeling in my throat, I state to you now this a one of your best ever! honest to god.
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Wow...thanks a lot. Just some thoughts lurking around behind my hairline (smiling). Wasn't sure if it was something anyone would appreciate. I know it affected me (of course that's why I posted it)...thanks for the read and powerhouse comments; very encouraging.
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