Rett

Dec 14, 2008 ⭐ View statistics (Premium feature)

Spirit Woman #3

Spirit-Woman #3

Rolling mountains,
Covered green,
Hazy skies,
Mountain stream.

Anger running,
Paranoid fears,
Friendly gestures,
White-man leers.

Soldiers massing,
Round-up soon,
Many die,
Hand of doom.

Spirit-Woman
Chanting sound,
Those who listen,
Never found.

March of death,
Shame is here,
Soldier writes,
Trail of Tears.

The Cherokee called it...
The Trail Where They Cried - "nu na hi du na tlo hi lu i "

http://www.assumption.edu/users/McClymer/his260/JohnBurnettTrail.html

— Rett, Dec 14, 2008

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: Southern Texas, USA

Favorite Poets: Dickenson, Longfellow

This user supports Neopoet so it can be free to all

Critiques

sakkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

17 years 5 months ago

Soldiers

RETT. The men I knew never cried they my friend just stood in mud and asked for life. Yes a few were to be empty and a few were to talk to God yet the stood as I was to hide. So tell me agian where the world you loved came appart.

Rett

17 years 5 months ago

Steven

My world has not come apart as of yet. It may be on it's way, but not yet. This is a bit of a historical piece with a bit of fantasy storytelling interwoven. Not sure exactly what you are saying/asking. Respectfully, Rett: "The people of America must really like idiots, look at EVERYONE in Washington." Rett

yenti

17 years 5 months ago

Rett

You wrote this with a lot of feeling, it was very good, I think that the Spirit Woman will guide them to their rest. It matters not if it is history, or fiction it was given to you. It is part of an evolvment that we would sooner forget, but must be reminded of, so that we may never do it again. Man does this to man every day, dare I say it is a way of learning. It leaves loose tears in my eyes my dear friend, as if I can feel them here, as we remember them in prose or thought. We have the book of Wounded Knee, may those that did that journey be held with the love of their people always. Thank you for the memory, yours Ian.T

Rett

17 years 5 months ago

Thanks Ian

Being of both heritages I am sometimes torn. We need to make sure it doesn't happen again. Funny you should mention Wounded Knee, one of these will cover that also. The worst part of the Trail of Tears was they were peaceful and a lot had adopted Christianity and the women wore gowns like the white man. Then a young boy traded gold and greed overtook as usual. Respectfully, Rett: "The people of America must really like idiots, look at EVERYONE in Washington." Rett

Rett

17 years 5 months ago

Thanks Janice

Although I hate to disappoint you, there is more to come. It seems like for some reason this one took on a life of it's own. Respectfully, Rett: "The people of America must really like idiots, look at EVERYONE in Washington." Rett

yenti

17 years 5 months ago

Sitting Bull

Today is the anniversary of the great chief's leaving, to his spirit world, the one that he believed in. I hope his journey was an easy one, he probably still feels sorrow for his nation as he watches them, Yours Ian.T

Rett

17 years 5 months ago

Thanks Ian

I appreciate it. I think you will like Part 5 since you seem to be up on this. Respectfully, Rett: "The people of America must really like idiots, look at EVERYONE in Washington." Rett

infinite_dwarf

17 years 5 months ago

I read part 1

And now need to read #2, and re-read #3. Someday the entire story will stick! Like the crystals, I think this makes for a nifty short story! ~Jess K. ---------------------------------------------------- - "Does Rudolph fail the safety inspection if his nose is burnt out? And where does he go? I don't think he'd fit in the bay at the Jiffy Lube." Happy holidays, y'all!

Rett

17 years 5 months ago

Thanks Jess

For some reason, as happens to me a lot, this one got out of hand and has become a history lesson tied together with a fantasy storyline as the lacing. Respectfully, Rett: "Each man is good in the sight of the Great Spirit.." (Sitting Bull)

sakkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

17 years 5 months ago

Life

Rett. I offer thanks to the gray you hold and say good luck to the morrow my friend. I say this as to understand me well that would take a fool a schollar and a friend. Walk with me no guns to hold just the sound of the river to tole. Remember my friend I'm just me like you a person. And to the day friend as you will live forever in the reason I came to this place as few are between the twix of a mix of the start and the end. Good luck brother and by chance when you see somthing that is not alive just to a glance of your mind it will be me looking back at you from a shadow I found to hide in. Steven A. Kacer

weirdelf

17 years 5 months ago

I can see why you chose a

I can see why you chose a short line form, stark like the bared bones lining the trail, yet I find your work more emotionally deep and complex in longer line form. How's that for crit? Say nothing and make it sound good, I should be a critic! Nonetheless this piece is powerful and it works. Lest we forget. cheers, Jess "They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety" Benjamin Franklin, wonder what he would think of the Patriot Act.

Rett

17 years 5 months ago

You make a good critic Jess

and to top it off, unlike most of them you can write also! Glad to know it is working. Thanks! Respectfully, Rett: "Each man is good in the sight of the Great Spirit.." (Sitting Bull)

Rett

17 years 5 months ago

You make a good critic

and to top it off, unlike most of them you can write also! Glad to know it is working. Thanks! Respectfully, Rett: "Each man is good in the sight of the Great Spirit.." (Sitting Bull)

themoonman

17 years 5 months ago

Rett...

I can see why you separated these pieces... although they all have the same general theme they are all poems by themselves and in different forms... this is compacted for strength, and it does work but there was so much more that could have been said about the "Trail of Tears" maybe in part four... Richard

Rett

17 years 5 months ago

Richard

I could probably do a hundred poems on the Trail of Tears, but this thing has already went out of control on me. *LOL* I am trying to cover some of the major historical things that happened in the Native American problems and tie them together with a central theme of a spirit person. Later on, I may come back to this as it is nearest and dearest to my heart because it was absolutely totally unnecessary. I hope people will read more about The Trail of Tears. There were so many valiant sacrifices made by a people with no choice. Yes, you are right. I am trying to make each piece where it will stand on it's own, but still tie together in a loose sort of way. Not sure how well the whole thing will work or has worked. I am up to part five and working on part 6. I appreciate your reading and commenting. At least I know it is working a little bit. It originally started with part 1 as a poem and stayed that way for months, then all of a sudden it just took on a life of it's own. Weird huh? Respectfully, Rett: "Each man is good in the sight of the Great Spirit.." (Sitting Bull)

Robert Melliard

17 years 5 months ago

Hi Rett

I think the idea of adding references to information available on the internet about the theme of the poem is brilliant, It adds a new dimension to poetry. Readers can quickly move deeper into the topic if they so wish. Merry Christmas to you, your family and your lovely Spirit Woman, Robert.

Rett

17 years 5 months ago

Thanks Robert

I would like to take credit for that idea, but other people have done it before me. I just thought since this is a historical fantasy if you will, people might like to visit some of the facts contained in there. I more or less did the same thing on my poem about Nikola Tesla. Merry Christmas to you and yours also. Respectfully, Rett: "Each man is good in the sight of the Great Spirit.." (Sitting Bull)