Ancient warrior

Blood cannot change. Sometime must go back to your place of birth to learn peace.

                     

   Ancient warrior

I drove to the forest.
Away from the city.
I took my grandson with me to learn the spirit of the forest.
We walked deep into the safety of the woods and
the friendship of the wind.
I watched the birds and animals fly and roam free.

I found a river.
The water was strong and still clean from man's pollution.
I took out my sage. I lit the sage.
Said a quiet prayer.

I walked along the river.
Three year old Grandson followed.

"Spirit of life and death.
Please give me strength and wisdom.
Protect the water, the earth and the sky.
Allow the spirit of the hawk and wolf to send wisdom
to the leaders of this world.
So much war and violence.
Hate had overtook kindness."

I heard a quiet whisper in the wind.
"Ancient Warrior. Put your feet into the river.
Refresh your body and heart. Allow nature to absorb your pain."

I put my feet into the water. My grandson does the same.
I looked to the sky and whispered.
"Thank you spirit of life and death.
Thank you for the drinking water.
Thank you for the green earth.
Thank you for the clean air."

I raised my hand to the sky.
I allowed the sage smoke to spread around me and my grandson.
I knew the truth. I relearn many times in my life.

"We are one people on one planet.
We must live together in peace.
We must know peace for the sake of the children."

People tell me.
Man is foolish.
He cannot know peace. He cannot live without war.
Will a nuclear weapon killing a million people?
Will their screams of cities show the way to peace?

Old ancient warrior watches his grandson run through the forest.
He wondered what kind of world did he leave for his grandchild?

                            Coyote
                            Sept. 2012

Author's Note

People tell me. War is a part of us. One day when we are all dead. What will be remembered about the race of man?

Reviews

[Kaylor Mason]

That's a very good question. That's one reason I became a writer, rather than a soldier. Wars come, and wars go, and soldiers always die in the end and become dust . . . but our written words are eternal, and they live on forever. As necessary as soldiers are to society (and as much as I admire them,) something tells me being a writer is more of a lasting legacy than being a soldier

[Caradoc]

And when we are all dead and gone, who then will read the words of hearts? Even though we may leave our legacies in stone, as did our ancient ancestors, who might be left to wonder at our passing?

Depressing I know, but as a writer, I think on these questions often.

-Caradoc

[Mia]

This is beautiful!
""Spirit of life and death.
Please give me strength and wisdom.
Protect the water, the earth and the sky.
Allow the spirit of the hawk and wolf to send wisdom
to the leaders of this world.
So much war and violence.
Hate had overtook kindness.""
This prayer really touched me. I also love the thanks you give. We focus all our energy on what is wrong. All that energy is fuel to the fire. What a wonderful world we would have if you focused less on anti-war campaigns and more on living peaceful lives and giving thanks for all the amazing things nature gives us. This may seem silly, but I'm a big believer in self-fulfilling prophecies. The more energy we spend on war, even fighting against it is the reason why it is a big problem. Less anti-war slogans and more peace slogans :)
Thank you for sharing.

[khalid]

such a poem should be a guiding for all human race. i really wonder, each one hates wars and feels so bad when hearing about them but still at the same time wars everywhere! who makes such wars then? what is the use of sending armies somewhere and many soldiers get killed or injured with thousand of citizens killed or losing their homes? how can leaders sleep when their armies kill one child? but at the same time, how many children killed everyday? every minute? it is a real sick world with sick minds..the only good thing as i think is your great poem..it is really a great poem for a great poet Mr Ancient Warrior

[Barbara Walker]

You are so right in what you write! I don't think the egotistical, war mongers will ever cease to be, until everyone on this planet is gone. Stupidity goes deep. Though, this poem deals with war, I also, got a peaceful feeling from it, when you write of the forest, the river and the sage.
The only sentence that glared at me for correction was the last line in the 4th stanza. Corrected-Hate had overtaken kindness.
Excellent piece, Coyote.

[Gretchen Clarke]

This poem is so... solemn, especially as the ancient warrior does the ceremony. I really liked the stanza:
"People tell me.
Man is foolish.
He cannot know peace. He cannot live without war.
Will a nuclear weapon killing a million people?
Will their screams of cities show the way to peace?"
There are days where I feel nearly the same way as the warrior, and there are days when I think that, perhaps it isn't too late for humanity to realize that peace really can't stem from war.
As to your Author's Note, I'd like to think that, if we all die, there might be a rebirth of the human race, with people who didn't have to spill blood in every country around them. I think that, perhaps our stories and our culture would be passed to the 'new humans.' Then again, that's just me.
Keep up the great work!

[Kenneth The Poet]

This is what I wrote yesterday...

..but the flow stays constant, solid until we or the star dies...

Either way, it's on us to make the world a better place.

[Arielle Ann]

Long time since I last visited WC, and here I return to begin with reading the first RR and was so thankful that it had to be yours Coyote! A refreshing whiff your poem brings to my morning, away from all the chaos of life! Wonderful words Coyote, just loved each and every bit of your beautiful wordplay, the awesome scenic beauty and yes the moral in the end "What do we leave behind for our next generation".
Superb!!!!!

[The Refined Poet]

The ending line leaves us all with the same question in mind. well crafted!

[Celestial Witch Child]

You spoke your heart in this poem. It is so carefully and beautifully written. I applaud you.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Our legacy and mortality is something that we will never know until we are gone... A very moving and powerful poem.

[quinfinn]

our blatant disregard for life, for nature and the beauty she offers, and our capacity for love and art and beauty. this is how we will be remembered if at all.
another excellent write. i have one you might appreciate if you can find it...
"wolf spirit"