Long Teepees Poems

The Ending at Wounded Knee

This is what happened:
Two worlds collided,
And the elder one died.

Pony soldiers and Indian police,
Triggerhappy and jumping at shadows,
Killed Sitting Bull at Pine Ridge;
     His horse pawed the...

Read More

Nostalgic Nights.
The smell of gas in the vintage moped I drove an hour to buy, 
Driving down that small-town street at night,
Lit by the dim bike light on that streetlight-less street.
Mixing gas with oil and...

Read More

Far from having a nascent thought that envelops my rabid self,
Like inside of an accurate Swiss watch that had been given -
A present to presidents and diplomats from the 70’s era,
Memories in the kaleidoscope of...

Read More

II.
They did not use Reid Gibson that kindly
as they drove him swiftly on up the trail,
when he fell behind or misunderstood
the two would both strike him without fail.

Was he to be held for a big...

Read More

Weeds and grass grow in the cracks
of sun-faded, crumbling pavement,
a parking lot that once was full
of stressed parents and cowboys nascent.
A grand sign over the entry
now is rotted two-thirds away,
this old piece of my childhood
truly...

Read More

The Hi-ways and the By-ways
By Franklin Price
6/5/2016

The hi-ways and the bi-ways long before the Super-way,
Driving 'round the country different, here are memories of the day

The roads were mostly two lane, speeds were fast at fifty-five.
Had...

Read More

They took their ponies onto the plains.  We had let them live there as long as we could but the white men kept coming and it was not our place to stop them. ...

Read More

She had the physique
of a greek Goddess
olive sun-toned skin
from heritage past

her pearly smile
both warm and inviting
vulnerable and innocent
as that of an infant child

named for the butterfly
her spirit yearned to be free
to soar beyond the dreams
her...

Read More

The day seemed no different 
From the ones that pasted before
Heat, dust and wind
Made living here a chore 
We haven't had a drop of rain
For as long as I remember
It seems to me 12 years...

Read More

Sacred Dwellers

I am of Native American born
To be caretaker of Mother Earth sworn 

I heal with powers, a medicine man               ...

Read More

pyramid outlines glazed against desert skyline
castles and teepees in recesses of her mind

daydreams and nightmares she couldn’t shake
through the modern world she tries to break

feeling out of whack
she struggles to look back

knowing her present does...

Read More

Walking my land reminds me of why I am here in lieu of other places
It is a magical lilting land where Indian teepees used to reside
An unfettered meadow forest mix with wild strawberries,
Queen Anne’s lace...

Read More

Just 'fore words formed inside my head 
as my mother put me to bed
her sweet voice would rhyme to lull me
tales of children wild and misled.

Who ran and played and sang and danced
deep in teepees...

Read More

Imagine for a time with me
Look out across a huge prairie
As far as the eye can see
The winds blowing softly
Making waves like on a sea

Imagine for a time with me
How the indians lived you see
They...

Read More