The Water, Sky and the Earth. Red Fox journey.

Native Americans lost their spirit and strong heart. Needed to meditate with the water, sky and earth to find the right path.

      






















                          We thank the Great Spirit  for all
                          the benefits. He has conferred
                          upon us. For myself. I never take
                          a drink of water from the spring.
                          without being mindful of His goodness.
                                   Black Hawk Sauk

                          What is life? It is a flash of a firefly in the
                          night. It is a breath of a buffalo in the
                          winter time. It is as the little shadow that
                          runs across the grass and loses itself in
                          the sunset.
                                     Crowfoot, Blackfeet

                         Trouble no man about his religion-
                         respect him in his view of the
                         Great Spirit. and demand of him that
                         he respects yours. Treat with respect
                         such things as he hold sacred.
                         Do not force your religion on anyone.
                                 Wabasha and Red Jacket. Seneca
 
                            
                     New Journey

Red Fox had his yearly mandatory military physical in 1977. His body was getting weaker. He had less energy and always felt tire. The rosemary tea did help. Don Francis  told him to drink the tea. His body will need help. Camp Pendleton was his home now. Close to twenty years in the Marine. He loved being close to the sea. Gave him a peace. He would roam the backside of California desert and the coastline of Oregon with Coyote when they could. Today he sat waiting for the Doctor at the Camp Pendleton clinic. Coyote and Little Wolf told him. He was getting smaller. Losing too much weight. He held great concern for the answers from the tests he was given.

A young Doctor came in. He asked him. How do you feel Gunnery Sgt.?  Red Fox smile and told him. "I will know in a minute. I hope?" The young Doctor with sadness in his eyes told him his white cells were increasing and your body is getting weaker.  Red Fox asked. "What are you telling me?'

The Doctor showed him his charts. He explained. "When the body is unbalanced. The body will  become weaker. Your body is getting attacked. You have a form of Leukemia. However your case is worst. Your respiratory system is failing too. Many boys who served in Vietnam are becoming sick."

Red Fox asked the Doctor. "What can be done? Can anything be done? The Doctor spoke with sadness in his voice. "There are cancer treatment that can slow down the sickness. Some people can live with it for years. Some people will die very quickly."

Red Fox look outside the window. Watching the young Marines running by the clinic. He turned to the Doctor. Asked him. "What is the next step?

Red Fox called Coyote. Told him. "Time for a vacation." Coyote told him with concern. When and where? He knew his friend never asked for anything. The trip was planned to go to Mexico and see Little Wolf and Silent Bobcat.

They met in Monterey. Coyote found Red Fox sitting on the beach. Red Fox got up and gave him a hug. Thanks him for coming. Coyote saw the weight loss and the sickness in the face of Red Fox. He asked no questions. He saw some of the Army Soldiers become weaker and not return from leaves. He heard stories of the sickness brought home from Vietnam. Many rumors of a cancer caused by the chemical warfare being used. He did a silence prayer for Red Fox. He spend three years in Vietnam. His mind and body paid a hard price for war.

They listen to Morrison, Dylan and Elvis on  the highways to L.A and San Diego.  Red Fox finally spoke at  Big Surf. They ate lunch at the River Inn.  Red fox told Coyote. "Life is fair. We pay for our sins. I left Vietnam and came home. I saw and did terrible things for this government. I have killed many people with my weapon and these hands. I was told I had cancer. My payment for my sins.  No time table for how long I will live. I decided to retire and stay with Little Wolf and die with friends. My people are gone. The Cheyenne are few. I believe Don Francis will insure I have a good death with friends near."

Coyote wanted to cry and scream at the same time. He went to the bathroom and cries tear alone. His friend needed him to be strong. After 10 minutes in the stall. He forced  a smile and some hope out of his sad heart. He sat with his friend. Told him. "Old Don Francis may know some mystic cures. We have a lot of time for life. Remember we must save the Water, Sky and the Earth. We must teach the world to hate war. Love peace and protect Mother nature."

Red Fox smile and told him. "I needed you my friend Coyote. Death don't scare me. Dying alone does. Your words are true. I must do one damn good things in my life. Life isn't fair. But with the good medicine and hope from my good friends. Maybe I can trick death for a few more year?"

They arrived at the house.  Little Wolf and Silent Bobcat come out to greet them. Little Wolf could not believe how much weight Red Fox had lost. She reached her arms around him. Whispered. "My big cheyenne. I will take care of you and heal you of the pain."
Coyote saw Red Fox taking pain pills. He knew the cancer was in the blood and body.

Don Francis came out. He smile and spoke. "I have been waiting for you my friends Red. Tonight we sweat out the poison and repeat till the sickness is out of your skin. I have a herb to change the blood. We have much work to do." Little Wolf with many tears fall in Coyote arms.

The four sit together watching the sun fall into the west on the porch of the house. Little Wolf stood up and light the sage. She walk around them spreading the sage. Saying a silent prayer. They drank the rosemary tea and few words were spoken. In sadness words mean very little.

                                Coyote

Author's Note

Finally a new chapter. Hard to find time to write. Please assist if weaknesses.

Reviews

[Amber "Victoriomantic" ..]

Wonderful tale, Coyote. All your poetry shows us of how good your friends are to you, but this shows how good a friend you are in return. Was the name Coyote given to you by your Native friend? That's a huge honour. My mother is Cherokee, and has a Native name which is her legal one now. The phrase "He forced a smile and some hope out of his sad heart" is particularly striking. In the grips of grief, it can feel really difficult to find a shred of positivity left. Squeezing it out of one's heart is a great way of putting it, as it does take massive effort to drag that positivity up to a tangible state.

[Coyote Poetry]

I did a lot of training in the California desert. My main job was driving the water truck. In the early morning. 3-5 coyotes would show up. I would give them a water trail and some food. I have a hard Spanish name, Castellenas. So the Soldiers started to call me Sgt. Coyote. I like the
name. Thank you for reading my story and poem. I had a rough week. Worked 72 hour in 5 days. I will return in three days and read your poetry. Thank you Amber. The Cherokee is one of the tribes who held their land and today they still do in North Carolina mountains. A beautiful place still.

[Amber "Victoriomantic" Hart]

Thanks for sharing your story! That's really interesting, and a kind nickname from your comrades. That does sound like a tough week, I hope you find the time to rest!
It would be lovely to see those mountains. Sadly though, there are Cherokee reservations. If only the Natives could have their land back.

[Thea]

Aw, that was somewhat poignant but still a truly wonderful story...You told a story very well...I enjoyed reading it from the beginning up to the end...Well done, once again...I like it... :)))
Thanks for sharing this... :)))

[Crow]

A beautiful addition, I could sense the sadness. However, there is also a spiritual peace and acceptance to the story. Well done my friend!

[EMMIE]

THIS IS SO EMOTIONAL. ALMOST HAD ME TEARY I HAD TO SWALLOW IT BACK LOL. YOU HAVE TOUCHED US WITH THIS AND THAT IS WHAT I CALL GREATNESS!

[Larry Dyson]

My tears flow with my brother.

[InkSlinger]

Strong chapter, emotional.. you are a gifted story-teller..

[Tina Kline]

A very moving and emotional chapter. War kills many years after it is over. I'm glad Red Fox is with friends who care about him, that will help him in many ways. Excellent chapter.

[...]

Very Amazing Coyote! I really enjoyed this write.

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

No weakness here just sadness I felt as I read! Whew, Can't say much more but wow this one cut to the core of my soul!

[KAREN]

This is any excellent story of true friendship. The imagery is great right along with the flow. The story is touching and very sad. This story makes the reader realize that time is not always on your side, death can come at any time.

[Jaco (Jaik Miller)]

Im sorry about red fox. You did all you could and all the right medicine. Thanks for sharing this. I'll be thinking about it alot today.