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An Ojibwe Girl - My Spirit

My people the Ojibwa are fierce and strong. A people of stories, myths and
knowledge.  On birch bark scrolls and stones their history is told. And I,
a mere Ojibwa girl writes stories.  The early Canadian explorers wrote of
our fierce warriors.  "Strong arms held bows, arrows and clubs, their bodies
tattooed in various fashion and design, faces painted and noses pierced."
Eventually they stole our land, so I fight for the rights of my people.

                      I tell my stories
                      keeping the warriors alive -
                      their strength and spirit


And there upon a sheer and rocky cliff a black stallion stands majestic under a 
blazing sun. My Ojibwa warrior looks at me with great love.  In the air and wind
that roars, his feathers earned in acts of bravery flutter.  I am nestled within his
strong arms.  My turquoise and glass beaded dress sparkles in the sun.  Far below
the Ottawa River thunders.  The vast lands of Canada stretch to the horizon. Up
above in the azure, many eagles soar, as a symbol of Ojibwa unity.  The Spirit
Fathers approve of this love. And in this dreamy dream the imagination of this
Ojibwa girl moves his majestic feathers.  The beauty will never fade in stories.


                       wild water echoes
                       of land as far as the eye -
                       and tribes brave and fierce
                        


___________________________
May 1, 2015


Poetry/Haibun/An Ojibwe Girl - My Spirit
Copyright Protected, ID 05-668-447-01
All Rights Reserved, 2015, Constance La France

Submitted to the Stndar contest, Show Me Your Spirit, 
sponsor, FJ Thomas, HM, Judged 2015

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Kp Nunez Date: 5/28/2015 5:20:00 AM I like the form you used for this fine write, Broken. Your spirit is stirred for the memory and history of noble people . A 7 . Congratulations on your win! My bad for being so late. Still catching up with my reading. Login to Reply

Poet Destroyer A Date: 5/22/2015 1:20:00 PM Broken, Congratulations on your win. Love LINDA Login to Reply

Eve Roper Date: 5/19/2015 3:47:00 PM Beautiful story , BW, a 7 congratulations on your wonderful win Login to Reply

Skat A Date: 5/19/2015 1:57:00 PM Broken, congratulations on your spirit win poem. SKAT love :) Login to Reply

James Marshall Goff Date: 5/5/2015 7:52:00 AM Thank you for your kind comments, Constance, read again this beauty upon printing....you do possess an enlightened spirit, so wonderfully shared....very grateful, jim Login to Reply

James Marshall Goff Date: 5/5/2015 6:50:00 AM Wow, Constance.....a Bald Eagle flew over my head last Saturday while Morel Hunting.....always a good omen...just read "Black Elk Speaks" a first hand account of a boy's recollections as a witness to what has been labelled 'Custer's Last Stand' not as much abuse here in Minneapolis as I witnessed in the '60's but much to be done to encourage authenticity....now....this poem of yours....2-things i like....1st. sheer beauty! wow! then....the spoken-word lay-out.....faved & printed! jim Login to Reply

M. L. Kiser Date: 5/1/2015 3:52:00 PM Excellent imagery; I see it; I'm there. Login to Reply

Richard Lamoureux Date: 5/1/2015 2:06:00 PM Lovely! I enjoyed the feel you created with this piece. Login to Reply

Thomas Martin Date: 5/1/2015 12:37:00 PM Glad to see you experimenting with the haibun form. Think this is the 2nd one of yours have read. Good work! Login to Reply

Constance La France Date: 5/1/2015 9:41:00 AM It is very difficult to write from left to right across the page. The wrap around does not work so one has to break the line at exactly the right place or the line is as long as the thundering Ottawa River in my Haibun. Login to Reply