The Ghost Dance
A Paiute shaman named Wovoka
hailed all the tribes across the nation.
And announced himself the messiah
visions backed his bold proclamation.
Year eighteen ninety in Nevada
they came to sing and learn the Ghost Dance.
And hear of a new world prophecy
that come spring will replace bow and lance.
The earth will be covered with new soil
burying the devils with white skins.
And on that soil grows a sea of grass
where restoration of hope begins.
Herds of buffalo and wild horses
will be resplendent in their return.
And the ghosts of ancestors will come
to replace all those who would not learn.
Everyone who performs the Ghost Dance
will be lifted high into the air.
And they will stay there while earth's renewed
safely removed from the white man’s lair.
They'll be returned to the earth and
all the recent dead will revive then.
And women danced till they collapsed
pleading for the return of their men.
Every dancer wore a Ghost Dance shirt
painted with symbols of great magic.
And when told bullets couldn't pierce them
this desperate last straw turned tragic.
Written Aug.7, 2015
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