Home » Poems » Richard Lamoureux » Silent Drums

Silent Drums

The sound of drums has halted Canoes traded for cars No one left to tell of the bear. Billboards cover the landscape Is this progress? Is this what you seen in your mind's eye? Who will teach your ancestral tongue? Let your drums beat once again. Written for Debbie Guzzi's any Eight Line Contest I chose to write about the loss of our first Nation people's culture. This loss took place as a result of Residential school system and at the hands of people who abused their children. Buckets of money will not compensate for the loss of culture and sense of community. The wealth is being concentrated in the hands of a few people while Many members of their communities live in Third World Conditions.

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem.

Please Login to post a comment

Eileen Manassian

Date: 5/15/2013 4:39:00 PM

Lovely write, Richard. Thanks for speaking up for them

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 5/15/2013 7:17:00 PM

No thanks required. Thanks for your thoughtful soup mail today.

Skat A

Date: 2/22/2013 5:52:00 PM

Richard, your poems amazing, I like what I read, ~SKAT

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 5/15/2013 7:17:00 PM

Thanks

Victoria Anderson-Throop

Date: 1/16/2013 2:51:00 PM

A sadness pervades the poem.. Well done.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 5/15/2013 7:18:00 PM

Thanks

Poet Destroyer A

Date: 1/15/2013 8:53:00 AM

Richard, :-) Congratulations in Debbie's fine " EIGHT Lines any KIND " contest. enjoy your day... PD

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 1/15/2013 9:15:00 AM

Thanks Linda

Barbara Gorelick

Date: 1/13/2013 9:35:00 PM

You speak the truth my friend. Well done and congrats. Bg

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 1/13/2013 10:39:00 PM

Thanks, I appreciate the visit and comment.

Debbie Guzzi

Date: 1/13/2013 2:11:00 PM

A very good topic to highlight. Believe it or not the indigenous people of Peru have lost almost all of their origin culture, destroyed by the Spanish invaders [like they did in CA. ..the missionaries ;)] Congrad's Light & Love

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 1/13/2013 3:58:00 PM

Many things have been done in the name of religion that have nothing to do with God. Very sad indeed.

David Williams

Date: 1/13/2013 6:15:00 AM

Richard congrats on your win, a sad part of our lifetime...David

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 1/13/2013 9:29:00 AM

Thanks David.

Seren Roberts

Date: 1/12/2013 8:21:00 PM

Congratulations Richard......Seren

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 1/13/2013 1:38:00 AM

Thanks Seren, you are up late.

Mehnaz Veetil

Date: 1/4/2013 4:08:00 AM

when people rave on fiscal fronts and stock markets ,it is sad that a few sections of societies and communities are forced into oblivion. beautifully said... powerful too......like, like ,superlike.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 1/13/2013 1:37:00 AM

Thanks Mehnaz.

Audrey Haick

Date: 1/3/2013 10:28:00 PM

Excellent take on the contest...best wishes for the Winners' List, Richard. Deb, will enjoy this, I'm sure. Always, Annalise

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 1/13/2013 1:36:00 AM

Thanks for your kind words.

Yanny Widjanarko

Date: 1/3/2013 5:39:00 PM

Really the provoked one Richard, I think in technology we are progressing but sometimes when one aspect grow rapidly and not being followed by other aspect like the moral responsibility, it will grow lame, and caused downgrading. So all must be intertwined and build each other. That what I have thougt :)

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 1/3/2013 5:58:00 PM

You have said it well Yanny, everything in harmony.

Debbie Guzzi

Date: 1/3/2013 1:32:00 PM

Hey Rich..good entry! as to the G-d..in my write, I was being traditional, Orthodox Jews do not speak the name of G-d, or write it. It is blasphimy. Comparable to using the Lords name in vain. Though I no longer consider myself Jewish since I was writing of tradition, I chose to follow it ;) Light & Love

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 1/3/2013 2:40:00 PM

Thanks for explaining, I find this sort of information intresting.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 1/3/2013 12:15:00 PM

wow, this is very powerful to tell about this topic in so few lines. WELL DONE. I like this one a lot!

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 1/3/2013 2:41:00 PM

Thanks Andrea, very real problem here in Canada.

Daver Austin

Date: 1/3/2013 9:50:00 AM

Thanks for reading my stuff, Richard. I was born in 1929 and cannot see much resemblance now to the world I grew up in. Many of the no-nos we had in the 30s and 40s are now not only tolerated, but aggrandized. Your drum beat speaks of so much that is lost and needed once again. daver

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 1/3/2013 2:44:00 PM

A long time ago I wrote a poem called the traveler and it was about a man much like yourself who had witnessed the world change. With the speed things ate changing I am unsure if our world will be recognizable. I don't see it as progress.

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 1/3/2013 6:49:00 AM

A topic that we should think a little on ..... very well written, Richard. - oxox / / Anne-Lise :)

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 1/3/2013 7:08:00 AM

Thanks Anne Lise