The last reckoning
for arrogant Yellow Hair
ignorant and vain
to split his force in folly
sacrificed his men to pride
Author notes
This was inspired by Skinwalker2's Tanka, "Deer Medicine Rock" (American Tanka), remembering the prophetic vision of the battle of Rosebud (aka 'The Battle of Little Big Horn') allpoetry.com/poem/443820
♦ click the featherbar for music video of Ghost Dance ♦
Written January 8th, 2004
In a list
Comments
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Thank you, Lyn!
This is a very contemporary tanka (I bent the traditional rule of a nature image). Although I am familiar with, and written a few in, the traditional style I don't think I'm really practiced or knowledgeable enough to 'instruct'. A basic outline of the form and its application I could do -- and then refer them to AndrewHide 
~Gen
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Thank you for the link
This Tanka urges me to ask you if you would to give a mini-lecture on the Tanka in Winklings. See BOARD. (I like the light green!) How you tap into a sad part of American history!
That there was honor on one side and arrogance on the other illustrates powerfully the continuing futility of wars which 99 times out of 100 escalate into senseless destructiveness.
Lyndon.
Edited on Jan 24, 10:18 because ''. -
Very good piece, 'Wounded knee' a great book
as is The trail of Tears'
Clearly understood.
Jules. -
Lovely poem.
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Fantastic write. It's a keeper!!!
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so sad so many good young men had to die because of a governments treacerous policy and a foolish officers pride. its too bad the natives didnt whup the army more often. the government might have learned to respect them.
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Interesting ideas. Great work though. I wish I could write haiku, but I unfortunely have no ability what-so-ever in picking out words to make any kind of sense. Good luck on future writes! Thanks for sharing this!!
--Keita -
A fitting tribute to a great American "folly." A greater reason to record history's shame. You did a masterful job on this piece, I am sure Skinwalker is honored by the tribute.
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Ok this was great and after reading it a couple of times, even witout your note I knew what it was about. Direct hit on this one. You write so eloquently in this minimalist style. I love your stuff. Susan
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Thank you, dear friend! What a tragic clash of culture and perception! To underestimate one's enemy is inevitably fatal...both sides made that error... one in innocence and honour; the other in greed and arrogance. One prevailed, but didn't 'win'.
~ Maatkara
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Great Tanka~thanks for sharing
Thank you so very much Maatkara ~ I dance beneath you in the peyote rain ..Love your Tanka !!! All you say in your poem is so true ..Well done my friend .. I don't know why such brave men turned to murdering the native americans , perhaps a trendy faddish of the times or greed .. Foolish and fearless George a Custer died with his brother Thomas W Custer ((the only soldier to win two congressional medals of honor in the civil war)) and men that would follow Yellow Hair to hell, and so they did..Crazy Horse had a great encounter with victory for the day ..Sitting Bull looked on pass the day ..Thank you for sharing Maatkara ~ Skinwalker
Edited on Jan 08, 9:18 p.m. because 'spell check ~ lol'.
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