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Native American Poetry ...

Native American Poetry - Poems

All is finished

I wanted to give something of my past to my grandson.
I told him that I would sing the sacred wolf song over him.
In my song, I appealed to the wolf to come and preside over us, while I would perform the wolf ceremony.
So that the bondage between my grandson and the wolf would be life long.
I sang.
In my voice was the hope that clings to every heartbeat.
I sang.
In my words were the powers I inherited from my forefathers.
I sang.
In my cupped hands lay a spruce seed, the link to creation.
I sang.
In my eyes, sparkled love.
And the song floated on the sun's rays from tree to tree.
When I had ended, it was as if the whole world listened with us to hear the wolf's reply.
We waited a long time but none came.
Again I sang, humbly but as invitingly as I could, until my throat ached and my voice gave out.
All of a sudden I realized why no wolves had heard my sacred song.
There were none left!
My heart filled with tears.
I could no longer give my grandson faith in the past, our past.
I wept in silence.
All is finished!
...Chief Dan George Salish (1899-1981)

"The Creator above is the Great Spirit
and the Great Mystery, His gifts are plentiful
therefore you want not.
He holds out a branch
of love and protection and He draws you to
where the ground is undisturbed, where the air
is pure and the water is clear and clean
enough to give life.
You walk, you breathe,
you feed, for you are pleasured.
The times
when your heart is weak, your circle is out of
balance, He lifts you up again and draws you
to the good Menominee road, for He is strength and
wisdom."
...(part of The Menominee Version of the 23rd Psalm)

EAGLE POEM

To pray you open your whole self
To sky, to earth, to sun, to moon
To one whole voice that is you
And you can't see, can't hear,
Can't know except in moments
Steadily growing, and in languages
That aren't always sound but other
Circles of motion.
Like eagle that Sunday morning
Over Salt River. Circled in blue sky
In wind, swept our hearts clean
With sacred wings.
We see you, see ourselves and know
That we must take the utmost care
And kindness in all things.
Breathe in, knowing we are made of
All this, and breathe, knowing
We are truly blessed because we
Were born, and die soon within a
True circle of motion,
Like eagle rounding out the morning
Inside us.
We pray that it will be done
In beauty.
In beauty.
...Joy Harjo

Info snippet: Did you know... a 1765 translation of a Cherokee war song was probably the first printed English rendering of a Native American "poem."

TEARS

Each rain drop that falls reminds me of a tear,
Shed by my ancestors of a long ago yester year.

Tears of sorrow as the buffalo were killed for their hide,
Knowing it was a waste the reason for which they died.

Tears of anger as the white man invaded our land,
Because it changed our lives we were forced to take a stand.

Tears of understanding for they were merely searching for a home,
But it caused my people much hardship for no longer could they roam.

And also tears of defeat as whites engulfed us all,
But in our hearts and minds our heritage will always stand
straight and tall.

WE MUST LISTEN

When we were young we listened to the one who gave us birth,
Yet all through our life we must listen to Mother Earth.

For that is how we will learn the secret she is willing to share,
All the responsibility Mother Earth expects us to bear.

Let us look through all creatures' eyes to be able to see their daily needs,
To marvel at how Mother Earth all creatures each day she feeds.

Teach us to watch and learn the wonders that Nature has in store,
To realize the poisons of mankind, upon Mother Earth must cease to pour.

When we were young we listened to the one who gave us birth,
Yet all through our life we must listen to Mother Earth.

For that is how we will learn the secret she is willing to share,
All the responsibility Mother Earth expects us to bear.

Let us look through all creatures' eyes to be able to see their daily needs,
To marvel at how Mother Earth all creatures each day she feeds.

Teach us to watch and learn the wonders that Nature has in store,
To realize the poisons of mankind, upon Mother Earth must cease to pour.

A PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE

Great Spirit of us all you have made my body strong,
Please fill me with your wisdom so I'll know right from wrong.

Let me see myself as others also see me,
So I'll know if my character agrees, with how you say it should be.

Let me be slow to anger yet so quickly to forgive,
Grant me patience oh Great Spirit so happier my life I can live.

Teach me fairness so honor I can bring to you,
So with fairness you will judge my life when my days are finally through.

When war must be waged give us the strength and courage of the bear,
The cunning and endurance of the Wolf we can push our enemies back to their lair.

WE THE FIRST PEOPLE

I'm proud to belong to one of the original clans
Whose Ancestors occupied all of these lands
Before we were "found" by some wandering seaman
Who knew just where he was and we became "Indian"

Talk to me of our victories, and I will listen
Tell me about our history, a tear will glisten
Stories of how life use to be, bring a rueful smile
Drums and flutes will find me dreaming all the while

In order to "save" us, they killed us
Our peaceful cultures were "dangerous"
And they thought they could just ravage us
But by fighting back, we became "savages"

Call us lazy indeed - we're not driven by their greed
To gather "materials" about them
But my question is
How did we exist
For hundreds of centuries without them?

"Once we walked the earth and our bodies were strong. Once we started each day with deep breaths and grateful thanks for all around us.
Once we used the medicines, prayers, and ceremonies that cured any sickness we had ... now it's different.
We climb an unknown mountain searching for fresh air.
We walk among an earth disrespected.
We look for plants to heal our weakened bodies, the plants are polluted and dying as we are.
We use what is left of our ceremonies to try to catch out breath. We are suffocated.
Our Creator breathed life into us ... he has a message: "For that which was taken from us will be returned sevenfold."
Our sacred breath - it's time to take it back."
…Nancy Rac, Jicarrila Apache

Crazy Horse
Story of a Brave Sioux Leader

A very great vision is needed and the man who has it must follow it as the eagle seeks the deepest blue of the sky ... we preferred hunting to a life of idleness on our reservations. At times we did not get enough to eat and we were not allowed to hunt. All we wanted was peace and to be left alone. Soldiers came and destroyed our villages. Then Long Hair (Custer) came...They say we massacred him, but he would have done the same to us. Our first impulse was to escape but we were so hemmed in we had to fight.
…Crazy Horse, as remembered by Charles A. Eastman. Crazy Horse, Tashunkewitko of the western Sioux, was born about 1845. Killed at Fort Robinson, Nebraska in 1877, he lived barely 33 years.

Each of us is put here in this time
and this place to personally decide the
future of humankind.

Did you think you were put here
for something less?
...Chief Arvol Looking Horse

…Reading Ranbow - “Ancient Places, Sacred Lands” YouTube.com

Oh, Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the winds
Whose breath gives life to the world, hear me
I come to you as one of your many children
I am small and weak
I need your strength and wisdom
May I walk in beauty
Make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have made
And my ears sharp to your voice.
Make me wise so that I may know the things you have taught your children.
The lessons you have written in every leaf and rock
Make me strong--------!
Not to be superior to my brothers, but to fight my greatest
enemy....myself
Make me ever ready to come to you with straight eyes,
So that when life fades as the fading sunset,
May my spirit come to you without shame.
…A Sioux Prayer, Translated by Chief Yellow Lark – 1887

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I'll be adding links to Native American Poems / Poetry and other literature here. Please check back often. These writings are so moving, organic and spiritual - I hope you'll have a chance to explore this form of literature.