Best Cherokee Poems

Cherokee Tears

ceremonial drums' rhythmic heartbeat
impassioned tribal chants
echo in Smoky Mountain mist before dawn

tortured spirit of an ignoble president
Andrew Jackson seems imprisoned here
haunted by wailing ghosts of tribe members
too old to meet Jackson's mandate

rise up, carry all you own
except your memories, your hopes
abandon graves of your...

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Cherokee chamber,
where a pow wow stampeedes preconceptions of inheritence,
from Her beaded neck charms of chance & chains of change
glisten from opulent offerings of roots, corn & lavender ablaze
on an alter of unworked stone mantled with skins strong beasts knew,

She is a " Stomp Dance "...

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Cycling through time;
this wrack of flesh fleets on.
Spinning indifferently on a compressed 
ball of mud.
Pulsing and thumping against 
the deafening destiny of becoming
a part of what it was spat unto.
Sipping the blood of my father,
seeking understanding.
The wine of revelation is an 
acquired taste and so...

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Mingo Falls, Cherokee NC

Come walk with me and rest your soul.
Go to where the waters flow,
and hear the music of natures’ best,
see how much we’re truly blessed.

Into the forest we’ll walk today
and see God’s splendor on display,
cascading down the mountain side;
Mingo Falls in all her...

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“Grandfather, grandfather! At school today,
a classmate hit me with a book.
The teacher made him stay inside
for recess. She said he was a good boy 
who did a bad thing. What did she mean?”

“Grandson, I will tell you a story.
All men have inside of them two...

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The mother’s tears fall along the trail                                      ...

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Cherokee spirts riding in the clouds
Cherokee winds crying out loud                                   ...

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many days we walked
an unforgiving sun
beating down upon us
and at night
even the cold moon
seemed to curse us...

Seeing what no eye should see
our tears mingled with dust
and angry winds spoke
of the death of our people
our children, our old
succumbing to grief...

Our hearts cried out
Great Spirit, give strength
give...

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She was sixteen when she spied her Cherokee.
Only fifteen, he was young, unsettled, and free.

At school they worked together so each could learn.
Before too long their friendship began to churn.

They blushed into their love; she waited for him.
Three years soon past while dreams flowed over...

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At the rising sun they came,

driving us from our homeland.

Miles and miles our people limped.

The weakened ones fell.



For the "Miles" contest...

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Paint ponies by the lodge
White manes

Turned silver in the moon’s glow
Taste of Mother Earth

Burden baskets hang at the door
They hold many seasons

Of worries & fears
The night owl comes

He sings the death song
Your time here has ended

The West door beckons you
Night Owl grows silent

© March 1984



In...

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A journey they seek
Now forcibly evicted ~~
Generations past ¬
Everlasting memories
Follow the Cherokee Trail ~~









http://www.thehighlanderspoems.com/indigenous-americans-2.php...

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Native American Translations

Cherokee Travelers' Blessing I
loose translation by Michael R. Burch

I will extract the thorns from your feet.
For yet a little while, we will walk life's sunlit paths together.
I will love you like my own brother, my own blood.
When you are disconsolate, I will wipe...

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I know the Bear.
     watcher, courage
          unpredict(ability)
I know the Snake.
     wisdom of initiation

I know the Wolf.
I know a pack of 'em.
     loyalty, intuition


I know...

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Erasure Poem 
So many fake Indians these days
Elizabeth Warren is one
And according to my DNA results
I am too

But my grand-parents spoke Cherokee my mom claims
And they disappeared into the hills 
She claims

Is the DNA test wrong?
Was I adopted ?
Or is it possible
That I am a...

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