Native People
The skies were so blue and the eagle so free,
the people I knew roamed from the hills to the sea:
But a ship came ashore with men dressed in bright armor
they took hold of my woman and said we won't harm her;
And then before I knew it 500 years had passed by,
and now all the people say there's no use to try;
I SING WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE, I SING WHERE HAVE THEY GONE?
The elders are saying that it's the beginning of the next 500,
they tell me that once again the buffalo will be hunted;
The elders keep saying that freedom will soon reign,
they tell me fresh waters will wash away the old pain;
I want to run free like the wind through the trees,
the elders are saying never again will we fall to our knees;
I SING WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE, I SING WHERE HAVE THEY GONE?
But now I hear hoof-beats, I hear the people returning,
the elders just smile and keep the sacred fires burning;
There's light in the hills and the horses are restless,
and the people are so excited they sing until breathless;
For the elders are saying that all of the people are coming,
they're walking, they're running, it's home that they're coming;
I sing there are the people, I sing there they come now;
I SING THERE ARE THE PEOPLE, I CAN SEE THEM ALL NOW......
(Written originally for Spirit Of Crazy Horse newspaper-1994- in support of LEONARD PELTIER)
Leonard, a Native brother, was wrongfully imprisoned for murder in 1976. At 69 years old he remains imprisoned today in Florida, despite obvious proof that he was 'set-up', and clearly an innocent man.
Thank You for reading my poem. Hoka-hey Leonard.
Dan
Copyright © Daniel Murphy | Year Posted 2013
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