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The People (pantoum)

by David R Spellman


Toward the east, where we set our lodges' doors,
we'd welcome the dawn of each new day
and from there we saw upon her shores
a rising tide which would change our way

we'd welcome the dawn of each new day
knowing southern lands held no fountains of youth
a rising tide which would change our way
brought your golden greed, your crooked truth

knowing southern lands held no fountains of youth
you pushed us west upon long trails of tears
brought your golden greed, your crooked truth
to scraps of ground which no people could bear

you pushed us west upon long trails of tears
forcing our hand on the northern plains
to scraps of ground which no people could bear
buried there among your soldiers' remains

forcing our hand on the northern plains
massacred in bloodied sandy creeks
buried there among your soldiers' remains
while from wounded knees our sorrow peaks

massacred in bloodied sandy creeks
our great mother welcomes us to her breast
while from wounded knees our sorrow peaks,
our spirits seeking just a place to rest

our great mother welcomes us to her breast
and from there we saw upon her shores
our spirits seeking just a place to rest
toward the east, where we set our lodges' doors

10/03/2004

Author's Note: A tribute to the native American peoples.

Posted on 10/03/2004
Copyright © 2024 David R Spellman

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by Anne Engelen on 10/03/04 at 03:41 PM

very well crafted! Truly enjoyable read!

Posted by Charles E Minshall on 10/03/04 at 04:18 PM

Well done David. Is this poem from Daveys Locker? ....Charlie

Posted by Kate Demeree on 10/04/04 at 03:23 PM

You know from the first sentence.. I knew this was a wonderful tribute to a people and lifestile that will never be forgotten, and live in the hearts and minds of generation, after generation! Well Done David!

Posted by Ashok Sharda on 10/05/04 at 09:29 AM

Yes, towards the east, welcoming the dawn to each new day. This is so full of life.

Posted by Quentin S Clingerman on 10/08/04 at 02:14 AM

Beautifully written expression of empathy and tribute!

Posted by JD Clay on 10/08/04 at 05:35 PM

This is a great reflection of who we are and where where we're headed. History does in fact repeat itself, let's just hope we've learned our lesson. Perhaps one day soon, The People will wake up to discover that government has outgrown its headress and is not the brotherhood they envisioned. Pe4ce...

Posted by Sarah Graves on 02/28/05 at 09:09 PM

I just realized I never commented on this piece. What an amazing tribute to the Native American legacy of this land, which is their origin. You eloquently piece together westward expansion, that created a missing history. Exceptional work.

Posted by Kristina Woodhill on 11/29/10 at 03:56 PM

A fine POTD! I had not seen this one before and enjoyed it very much. Oddly the front home page presentation gives it a tight, run-on appearance, which adds a certain intensity that I actually like.

Posted by Glenn Currier on 11/29/10 at 11:49 PM

David, thanks for this tribute to Native Peoples. For a long time I have felt a kinship with them. I know not why exactly, but you capture our tragic past with your poem. Congrats on potd.

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