Where are the magic makers of the rains,
Our rattle-shaking shaman and our Chief,
Who brought much-needed moisture to the plains,
Whose painted drums and rattles brought relief
From gloomy and accumulated pains,
Who sowed creative seeds in clouds of grief?
They've traded in their many-colored plumes
For sinister white fire-water fumes!
Where are the ones with eagle-feathered shields
Who chanted in an ancient mystic voice,
Whose rain-dance would insure the fertile yields,
Insured the sacred golden corn was choice,
Who brought creative rains to heart-land fields
And made the thirsty, native earth rejoice?
They've traded beaded Thunderbirds for spit
From wicked white-lipped vipers of the pit!
What's happened to our lost creative sons
Who brought us moisture in the midst of drought,
Who always were the innovative ones,
And made our healing tears come rushing out,
Who always stuck to their old native guns,
But now just stagger aimlessly about?
They’ve traded in their painted crazy horse
For vapors from some lake of fire source!
For clouds of dark suspicion and distrust
Just hang above our heads and they won't burst,
Dark clouds of doubt and doom refuse to bust,
And there's no vital moisture that's dispersed
Upon our heart-land that's as dry as dust,
That's like a barren wasteland that's been cursed,
Since sinister pale serpents stole the powers
Of our rainmakers who brought healing showers!
Author notes
Quote option: "Rain is grace; rain is the sky
concescending to the earth: without rain
there would be no life." -John Updike
A contest entry
- Native American Culture by Hoosierpoet.
700 points, ended June 10, 23 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
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Thanks again for enteing this wonderful poem in my contest.
Moses
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Very good rhyming scheme - a liked the way you wrote this lamentation. It does, indeed, sound like it could come from the heart of a Native American who misses the old ways of the fathers.
Moses -
This is deep deep deep. Never mind the prompt, you wrote one hell of a moving piece of poetry when you penned this.I can feel this poem in my bones. I must say it is the best I've read all evening and I have been here reading for some time now. Again this is good. Good luck in the contest.
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The rhyme worked in this was made me happy. I never really like rhyme but this was fine. This was creative. I love how you took the prompt and ran with. Great use of imagery in this. Good write and thanks for entering.
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