Truth on a Cross

My 3rd assignment in shape poetry class.

The Christians
  forced my people
to adopt beliefs
belonging to them.
Giving up old ways
in favor of new,
desired....or not.
My people were sent away to schools and churches in order to
brainwash them into changing their ways. The ways of the whites
were considered sophisticated and civilized while the ways of the 
Natives (called Indians back then) were considered primitive and
savage. I guess their way of thinking was that they were saving the
Natives from eternal
damnation and hell.
Did they not know
that the life they
gave us was exactly
that? Hell on earth
you can call it when
you not only take a
person's home away
from them but also
parts of their life?
Even to some extent
their soul? The very
thing that you claim
you were trying to
save in the first place.

Author's Note

I guess the shape is okay, could be better.

Reviews

[Rita L. Sev]

I think you did very well with the shape. This is a great piece - a history that is often forgotten. I love the pic of Kateri; interesting choice to go with this poem.

[OBWhiteHawk]

Thank you. Honestly I was looking for a picture of a Native holding a cross and she fit the bill. But it is true that her people turned their backs on her for being a Roman Catholic. Ironic since a lot of Natives these days are Catholic or at least were raised that way. Most have us are trying to resurrect the traditional ways, and many believe in both.

[Brandon S. Whitten]

Splendid read and write. Thank you for sharing truth.

[OBWhiteHawk]

Awesome, thanks for reading and commenting!

[Emily B]

okay? really? the shape and the message are phenomenal it gives me chills

[OBWhiteHawk]

Well Emily I am a perfectionist so all I see are the flaws. But anyway, the assignment was to write in the shape of a cross and make it in alignment with the shape. But at the same time I do have strong feelings about the subject I chose, with did happen to go with the cross shape. I appreciate that you commented, I know its a tough subject for many.

[Emily B]

the Great Spirit may be perfect but we are each flawed :) I see beauty in the little irregularities

[OBWhiteHawk]

Good point. And better still point.

[Emily B]

have you had a chance to read Many Antlers yet?

[OBWhiteHawk]

Yes and I enjoyed his words. I commented too but no response from him, or the other Native writer you had told me about. But I loved what they both had to say, resonated with me. :)

[Emily B]

Chris hasn't been around much. I did see Kunu the other day. There was another. He closed his account. You would like his voice, very raw, very real. He has a blog somewhere if I can dig up the poem about summers with his grandparents on the reservation I will send it your way

[OBWhiteHawk]

Nice, thanks! Not many of us out here I am finding.

[Emily B]

I used to go to Daniel Boone's fort to watch the reenactment of their fight with the Sioux. Then one year, I found myself overcome by grief. I cried so hard, but couldn't break away , hemmed in by the crowd. When it was over, i escaped to the woods and I asked that voice deep inside. Why did that happen? The voice said because you are of Boone and the Tsalgi. My family tree isn't talking.