The water, the sky and the earth. the long walk.

The Water, Sky and the Earth. The long walk.

A Chapter by Coyote Poetry

 Finally adding to the chapters of one of my stories. 

  The long walk.

“When death is close. Seconds become hours, hours become days, days become lifetimes. Each out-reach of life, human touch and kindness become an precious gift.”

“The mind is barely used. We dance upon the knowledge we can grasp and rarely test the mind. If we used the layers of the mind numbed by false teaching. What greatness could be learned and done.”

“Men had cured cancer with prayer. They used the natural herbs to stop the growth of the sickness in the body. Strong mind and spirit can make body and mind fight the sickness and become strong. If we treat our body and mind with respect. Life can be long and fruitful.”

Coyote sat in the sweat-lodge with Red Fox. They held silence. Don Francis told them not to speak and allow the heat to sweat the poisons out of the body. Coyote like the smell of burning stone and herb. He watched his friend. The man did not fear death. He was a warrior. He had fought against dislike for his skin and face his complete life. Fought in faraway wars and he had survived. Now the war had found him. Don Francis told them. His cancer was man-made. Poison create by man cannot be cleansed. Just slowed down. Red Fox told him. Death is always near. Just waiting for us to give-in or give-up. I’m not ready to leave you yet.

From dusk to early morning. Jackeline, Little Wolf, Coyote and Red Fox held silence. A  hard silence. Coyote saw the sadness and concern in Little Wolf face. She was praying and holding Jackeline’s hand. At morning break. Don Francis opens the doors. Removing the deer skins and allowed the morning air to bring needed coolness to over-heated bodies. Don Francis had brought cold tea and oatmeal for them. Red Fox turned to the morning sky, and he told them. “A new day. I believe I will appreciate them more now.  Little Wolf embraced him, and she told him. I saw you and I in a vision. You are an old man and I, an old woman together. Sitting on porch holding hands and watching the sunrise.  Red Fox brought the embrace tighter, and he whispered. I love you dear friend.

Coyote and Red Fox took a long walk into the morning desert. Red Fox looked strong. He had more color in his skin and he looked like his normal self. He told Coyote. “When I was Vietnam.  I dreamed of trees and the rivers of my home. I hated the tropical weather. Heat and rain. Today I love the desert. The peace and calmness make me feel safe. It is a lonely peace and calmness. Don’t worry about me. I saw death and I know death is a part of life. We must be born and we must find death. My friend. What we do in the middle. It does matter. Today I’m thankful. Little Wolf, Jackeline and you suffered the heat with me. I felt the prayers and caress of friendship. They sat on a ridge and they watched the sun and the morning clouds. Coyote asked. Can we save the water, sky and the earth. Or are we just dreamers and foolish for hoping for the world to become a better place. Man wants to destroy the land, kill each other and little concern for the future. I don’t understand the greed of man. Is bad death for the human race the final destination for the hunger of men. Are we wasting our time?

Red Fox smiled and he told him. You are young. Still holding on to great dreams. I believe we must follow the old wisdom. Put your feet into the sea or lake. Create a movement of hope. We must teach a better way. Maybe the simple movement can create a hurricane of hope. Show a few the value of the water, the sky and the earth. Men are hard-headed.  Men don’t learn the value of life till we lose a part of us or death is near. Today, each day is a blessing. We must help Silent Bobcat and I must fight the cancer. I will follow Don Francis rules. No drinking till my body is better. I will do the herbal medicine and sit and pray in the sweathouse. I need you my friend near. You are my balance. Remember my friend. Life is hard and he is lucky to have known a lot of laughter and to have known true friendship.

Two friends sat in silence. Watching the sunrise.

Two weeks later. Coyote and Red Fox went to the Marine base. The same doctor gave him a physical. The doctor looked confused. He asked Red Fox. Did you seek the cures in Mexico? The cancer had slow down. It looked like the cancer quit expanding and retreated. Red Fox told the young doctor. I did some natural cures in Mexico. The doctor smiled and he told him. Keep doing the things, you been doing. The cancer is still in your body, but it won’t kill you soon. They left the Marine base, and they went back to Little Wolf and Silent Bobcat. Little Wolf hugged Red Fox and she was very happy. She had been studying in college in Mexico City and with Don Francis. She knew, many people had lived with the natural cures. Silent Bobcat studied at the University of Michigan for four years now and she wrote papers on the environment and her opinion was respected. She returned home to help Don Francis with Red Fox.

The four walked to the rocks of prayers. Little Wolf burned the white sage, and she did a silent prayer. They sat in silence till Silent Bobcat told them. Red Fox won’t die on us, and we must stay strong. Many people are listening to us now. John Coyote poetry and my work on the environment is receiving attention. We must create a river of hope, we must create a river of possibility.

It is late December 1991. The four gathered at Monterey. Two dreamers and two herbalists drank some sweet wine, and they talk of yesterday and tomorrow. Little Wolf made Red Fox dance with her near the sea and Silent Bobcat forced Coyote to join the dance. They laughed and danced. Coyote told the moon goddess, the dancing stars above. We have given up. We remember the water, the sky and the earth. We will fight, us four, to save our wild and messy world.

                            John Castellenas/Coyote

Author's Note

Thank you for reading.