Login
|
Join PoetrySoup
Home
Submit Poems
Login
Sign Up
Member Home
My Poems
My Quotes
My Profile & Settings
My Inboxes
My Outboxes
Soup Mail
Contest Results/Status
Contests
Poems
Poets
Famous Poems
Famous Poets
Dictionary
Types of Poems
Quotes
Short Stories
Articles
Forum
Blogs
Poem of the Day
New Poems
Resources
Syllable Counter
Anthology
Grammar Check
Greeting Card Maker
Classifieds
Member Area
Member Home
My Profile and Settings
My Poems
My Quotes
My Short Stories
My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder
Soup Social
Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us
Member Poems
Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Random
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread
Member Poets
Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest
Famous Poems
Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100
Famous Poets
Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War
Poetry Resources
Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetics
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter
Email Poem
Your IP Address: 18.224.44.108
Your Email Address:
Required
Email Address Not Valid.
To Email Address:
Email Address Not Valid.
Required
Subject
Required
Personal Note:
Poem Title:
Poem
Early Days An epic story told of men on earth, My father’s life, and also mine Wind planted weeds, we had a humble birth, Not sprung from rose or grape on vine. Our whole existence born of charity, A “gift” of former Indian land, The “Cherokee Land Run” was spoils of war White farmers, lines drawn in the sand. The Indian’s thought that land was gift from God, No dreams of owned fields for their young, Astonished by the European greed That slaughtered buffalo’s for tongue. As if our guns were not enough to win Our broken treaties proved intent, Dead buffalo destroyed their livelihood While armies slaughtered innocent. America now celebrates its gain Today on battlefield of tears As if it was God’s will so many died To open up our new frontiers. I do not want to claim all men are bad But only fool would call them good Yet every man surely deserves At least a chance at livelihood. One hundred sixty acres all one man Could farm alone with horse and plow That settlers ran to claim some Indian land Just seems profoundly awful now. In truth my countrymen chose “might makes right,” The Golden Rule for fools who fail Both God and kin, forgetting karma’s sigh And thus drive home last coffin nail! My Father’s Life As boy, my father plowed behind a horse And prospered at the land’s largess, But still unanswered questions seem to rise That shame the heartland’s emptiness. As evidence of death on trail of tears Lost all of its salinity, My father’s eyes saw rocket land on moon A small step toward infinity But in-between States birth and dreams of stars Came plagues, wars, droughts, and growing pains Ambition always seems to rule the day Scant stewardship in mankind’s gains. Yes, farming practice had to change to end The dust bowls deadly claim on life, Though banking practices still go unchecked, Abuses, that cause damage, rife. “Let devil take the hindmost,” seems the call Of politicians left and right, “We’re not our brother’s keepers, let them groan, Their starving so how can they fight!” At this point still I’d like to know if you Remember fate of buffalo? Let’s take control and neuter their egos, The code word’s Michaelangelo, Just sing it as you come and go. There never will be profit found for poor Man on the Indian’s Trail of Tears. Perhaps it’s time to point the votes we still Have, Right at space between their ears, Let Trump and friends be ones with fears. Brian Johnston February 20, 2016
CAPTCHA Preview
Type the characters you see in the picture
Required