The Buffalo Vision

I went out to find my vision.
I leaned against a tree & it became an ancestor.
Carefully, I opened his mouth.
A white buffalo rushed out.
His large snow fur
enhanced the purity of his eyes.
You are my vision, I said, the vision of my people.
You are the birth of the earth
and the return of respect for a blood line
that once stumbled a long trail & fell
into the hidden caverns & dark wood,
inside the high branches & the hard stone.
He listened to me & grew larger.
He encompassed the mountains & blew
into the softness of a cloud bull.
I returned to my people & pointed to the sky.
I chanted my story as the cloud slipped
into the solid sun of blue.
My grandfather heard the song & hurried
into the steady hum of my presence.
He danced in a smoke of sage & threw
small colors into the wind.
It was the glass beads of our captors.
Bright & breakable they fell.
He was returning them for the young braves
that once found them a great bargain.
He was dancing for the return
of our buffalo skins, stolen openly,
by the trusted trappers,
and by our own longing,
for the magic of colors.

Reviews

[Rick Puetter]

Dear Phibby,

What a wonderful poem! Very magical as you mingle the reality of the American Indian into today's modern culture. I was especially intrigued since I just completed a poem about the Trickster character from American Indian culture, couched in the Winnebago tradition. If you're interested have a look at "Wakjakaga's River Race" at http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/rpuetter/417975/.

But enough of my poem, let's get back to yours. From the first line you had me: "I went out to find my vision". I could almost feel what was coming next. "I leaned against a tree & it became an ancestor...You are my vision, I said, the vision of my people. / You are the birth of the earth / and the return of respect for a blood line / that once stumbled a long trail & fell / into the hidden caverns & dark wood..." Wow, that's nice.

This is a very nice read and so heart-felt. Congratulation on a wonderful poem. Highest marks!

Best regards,

Rick

[Donald Meikle]

Sometimes it's hard to see.
Sometimes it's hard to look.
This is like wearing glasses
Spectacular

[W.k.kortas]

It's Venable-ese combined with the power and structure of myth. The brisk pacing works well, and there is a hailstorm of vivid imagery. Fine, fine stuff.