Totem Poems

tribal totem

a tribal totem
power animals honored
cherished spirit guides

bear and little moose
pintail duck deer cardinal
heartfelt ancestry

totem and taboo

Was it last year, or yesterday?
Old Totem asks Taboo
Who ordered orchestra to play
Was it myself or you?
We never ever ordered that
Replied to this Taboo
But they performed a finest set
Played waltz and boogaloo
So did we dance that night away?
Good Totem asks Taboo
I thought it was the other day
But doubt if it’s true
Your got the memory lapse,

Native American Totem Maybe

a ghostly figure swooped down into the night
I got my vision goggles out to see what I could
a bird flying? an omen? a native american totem?
knew not.

Her Totem Was An Owl

Wyandotte princess sent her favored owl out to the camps
she trusted his council, he would come back with a plan
a link between her ancestors and her offspring,
an ancient wise entity, in the form of a hoot owl
he would be full of ideas,
she allowed herself to dream
knowing this is how he would convey
the plan to save

Aiyana Finds Her Totem Animal

Aiyana is a tiny bit jealous of her brothers.
They get to be in the sweat lodge with the men tonight.
This means they will soon be discovering their totem animals.
Why is this only for males in the Shoshone tribe? She asks her mother.

At three in the morning Aiyana finds herself out of her body.
She is now

Red Fox Totem

Red Fox is a totem being,
for in true wisdom, he is seeing,
though in dreams, an image fleeting;
it bears repeating, it bears repeating.

Reminds us all, we have to laugh,
have fun, play, be a little bit chaff,
though some may call you, old Falstaff;
you’re not riffraff, you’re not riffraff.

Late at night, when old moon beams,
red fox will come

Goofy Woofy Halloween Totem

Goofy Woofy Halloween totem is sitting proudly.
Gawkers are making comments, some rather loudly.
A few make fun of the animals, as they look funny.
I am not one of them. My disposition is sunny.

Goofy Woofy Halloween totem makes me want to play.
It is sitting in the cornfield on a warm October day.
They take their job seriously, inviting

Jack O Lantern Totem

I saw a jack-o-lantern totem in the field across the street.
Three faces smiling at me. Their attitude could not be beat.
The top one was the smallest, and gray which was odd.
The bottom jack was black. She gave me a sassy nod.
The middle jack-o-lantern looked like one I made one day.
I watched these merry jacks, and

Little Bear Meets Wedge of Cranes

An energetic wedge of blue cranes doing mating dances
entered into Little Bear’s dream state without warning
Are they my totem? My spiritual advisors? My power animals?
He believed in such things, being Navaho. 

He asked the revered shaman for advice
The crane will bring you luck and fortune
You will succeed where others have failed.
Keep him; he will teach

Owl a Spirit Totem

With the wisdom of your power animal
It is time to face the shadows
Be fearless without nocturnal fears
Seek wisdom in silence, as your totem, owl
Your truth is parading in the dark.
To reach your highest self
You will become an owl
Wisely soaring past the highest trees
Opening doorways to higher realms

Twilight Totem

chirping exhaust trails
of a streaming philharmonic

blue-winged panegyrics float in
on a breeze of murmurs

dazzling brainwaves prevail
upheavals of a dawning melody

sequels of an aurora psalm

silken song of a chickadee

twilight fascination
in strands of a woven sapphire

orchestral melodic line

a thalia chorus with notes of 
birch on a spring morning

4th Contest Place Winner

Written: June 21, 2022

A BRIAN STRAND PREMIERE CHOICE

Wolf Totem

I breathe fire like a dragon killing demons
And I fight hard to kill the devils in my heart
I blow steam like an engine running through the night
Keep pumping ‘else my motor’s gonna fall apart

I survey down like a falcon during midday
Looking for my next meal, seeking resolution
And I charge on with a wolf totem within

My Totem Hat

My favorite hat is a totem hat.
It starts with a bull, then a deer, then a catfish, wearing a tiara.
It is something that I created myself once upon a time
To delight kindergarten students.

They giggle incessantly, but do not get the
significance of it. 
The fourth graders are less than wowed.
I care not. I did not make

Wolf Totem

A wolf is a powerful animal
Symbolizing courage and strength
There are so much to know about them
I could talk about it at length

Wolves come in many colors
Black, white, brown or grey
They always seem really scary
Even when they just want to play

A wolf is a wild animal and 
has an appetite to be free
Living it's life with

Horse Totem

In deep of forest he roams with might
A silken coat flaring through eve’s air;	
When moon casts boldness on a steed’s rite
To journey free… far as runes declare,
My horse totem enkindling power
Directing flights in my younger days --
Where carousels merry blessed the hour
This kinship granting me strength, ablaze:

Flows his mane of auburn, a crown’s hue
Resting kindly

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