We Were But People

A historic poem I wrote in school on the "Trail of Tears"

It was on a day with clouded skies

That my heart did see

Something so terrible

I never would have believed

 

The barren ground shook

And a sound like thunder arose

Before I knew what was happening

We were under their control

 

I could hear my people screaming

As the horses chased us off our land

Killing thousands and injuring many

Who refused their every demand

 

Sadly, we had no choice

Whether we could stay or go

The land that we had once cherished

Taken from our very souls

 

It was a long and perilous journey

Walking many miles in our bare feet

The way I heard those children sob

Made my heart skip a beat

 

Never will I understand

Why they took so much from us

It was heartless and cruel

And many died under their rule

 

We were but people

Trying to live peaceful lives

And still I wonder, why?

Was it necessary?

Was it wise?

To butt into our lives?

"In 1838 and 1839, as part of Andrew Jackson's Indian removal policy, the Cherokee nation was forced to give up its lands east of the Mississippi River and to migrate to an area in present-day Oklahoma. The Cherokee people called this journey the "Trail of Tears," because of its devastating effects. The migrants faced hunger, disease, and exhaustion on the forced march. Over 4,000 out of 15,000 of the Cherokees died."

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Author's Note

Thanks for reading. :)

Reviews

[The Dreamer]

wonderful! :) don't know hoe you do it - i could NEVER write historic poems :P

[Inda]

Its the way of the world; whomever has the most resources rules. Particularly technological/military.

[Carolann Dowsett]

This has happened over here too and in many other countries its sad and its wrong. I love the way you've written this, I could see the heartbreak of the people. The world is a very wicked place where money and power control all. Beautifully written.

[N!LoC]

wow u wrote a poem based on history... i dont think ive ever done that!

[Love Well Spent]

Really? You should try it! Just pick an event or tragedy back in time and imagine yourself there, experiencing it. I read about the Trail of Tears back when I was sixteen/seventeen and it really affected me, so I just had to write about it. :)

[N!LoC]

oh ! then i guess i did write a few simple poems about the gay teen suicides of those boys... it wasnt history.. but its was definitely inspiring

[N!LoC]

those were tragedies that touched me deeply..

[Love Well Spent]

Oh my. Do you have them on here? I'd like to read!

[N!LoC]

this one was about the gay teen suicides
http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/niloc/1094915/read morethis one was about the gay teen suicides
http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/niloc/1094915/

these are just generally about "bullying" that made news headlines
http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/niloc/1094913/
http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/niloc/1094487/

and this was about the whole hooplah about gay being an abomination lol
http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/niloc/1094551/

[N!LoC]

and i wrote this one after realizing that equality is really important for same sex partners
http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/niloc/1094911/

[Samoda]

evokes emotion... really loved the ending.. very good

[Love Well Spent]

Thanks!

[~*~Peace Keeper~*~]

I like this...I am studying Indians of North America and it is sad how they were forced out of their land just because of the greedy Europeans. You did great at capturing the emotions they may have felt.

Great Job

[Love Well Spent]

Thank you!

[s y e]

AMAZING!!!!!!

Good job, I loved this!

[Love Well Spent]

Thanks! :)

[Britt]

i read this, but thought i reviewd it,, guess not lol. This was good. I enjoyed reading this. i think i watched a video about this in 11th grade, i cant remember lol.

[Love Well Spent]

Yeah, that's when I learned about it too, in my 11th grade history class. It really affected me, so that's why I wrote it. Thanks for reviewing!

[CreativeStroke]

This was very well done! I enjoyed the read and am fascinated by history. I truly am sorry that this happened to all those poeple, it certainly wasn't fair at all. Thank you for sharing this piece!

[Love Well Spent]

I am fascinated by history as well! Thank you. :)

[quinfinn]

i live in asheville, right up the road from cherokee. many of my friends are indigenous americans, some of them cherokee. it is a bone of contention with me, the way our indigenous peoples are still treated in this "land of the free" and many white americans have no clue of our own holocaust. 52 million natives were starved, murdered and left to the elements by the white man in his quest for what he called "manifest destiny". and what of the native people's destiny. they still live in squalor and poverty and suffer the indignations of a wretched and forgotten people. i applaud you for this write and thank you for requesting i read it. faves!

[Love Well Spent]

I live in Asheville too! Wow, that's so interesting. I would love to meet an indigenous american one day and talk to them. Thanks for reviewing, so glad you enjoyed this poem. :)