29 December, 1890

remember...

Carry me back to Wounded Knee

   slung across a Sorrel galloping

Cries of Children call me

   through the rapid fire

   piercing my soul

Stench of powder, reeling death

   Ghost dancer fleeing

   with no place to hide

Onward, faster, carry me    

   I must join the innocent

   where the hoop is still sacred

   and life is happy

   life is free

jrj 1982

Author's Note

The 7th Cavalry got their revenge, on a small band of Lakota Women, Children, and Elders, in the deep cold, all those years ago.

Photo: the frozen corpse of Chief Big Foot, who had raised a white flag before the shooting started.

Reviews

[Jaweena...Eileen Quinta..]

Sitting Bull was killed on Dec 15 1890 with eight of his supporters when US military tried to arrest him because they were afraid of the "Ghost Dance", it didn't matter that he had complied to all that was demanded of him. There had been no uprising nor warfare. The tribes had been coerced into signing away valuable lands for which they had received nothing! Spotted Elk aka Big Foot and his band of women, children and men were afraid od reprisals of this incident so were making their way back to their land, under the watchful eye of the calvary.
General Miles sent a telegram from Rapid City to Washington on Dec 19 1890
"The difficult Indian problem cannot be solved permanently at this end of the line. It requires the the fulfillment of Congress of the treaty obligations that the Indians were entreated and coerced into signing. They signed away valuable portions of their reservation, and it is now occupied by white people, for which they received nothing.
They understood that ample provision would be made for their support; instead, their supplies have been reduced, much of the time they have been living on half and two thirds rations. Their crops, for two years have been almost total failures.
The dissatisfaction is wide spread, especially among the Sioux, while the Cheyennes have been on the verge of starvation, and were forced to commit depredations to sustain life. These facts are beyond question, and the evidence is positive and sustained by thousands of witnesses."
Records of Wounded Knee casuality often mentions 150 dead- but we know many more were killed, as many as 300 may have died.
Only 112 years ago that this took place. We are still feeling the after-effects.
Many choose not to acknowledge this tragic history......

[Coyote Poetry]

This is a sad time for the government of the USA. This wasn't the first. The Sand Creeks and many more were done by the greed and hate of the white leaders at the time. If you want a powerful book. Helen Jackson wrote a report for congress which is in book form now. That told the sad truth. It is called "A century of dishonor." The books made me angry for the abuse and destruction of a great people. A outstanding poem.
Coyote

[.]

I am still shocked at what we are a species are capable of ..with every line you hold the emotion, it is a simple work but it has so much depth..touched..

[Joiedevivre]

you really succeeded in capturing the rhythm and emotion you convey. Brilliant poem, really enjoyed it.

[WhiteWillow]

A sobering reminder of man's ignorance, set in beautiful prose. A wonderful write.

[Tate Morgan]

Such a sad point in the history of this country.makes me want to hang my head in shame.If like some cultures a family carried the shame for 7 generations I would surely feel the pain of this .It was inexcusable beyond that I wonder if we learned a thing by it as a country?

[emmajoy]

Your prose poem, plus the details added by Jaweena, explains yet another example of ignorance and arrogance, of man's inhumanity to man. What we see in films is/was mere play, what truly happened was the most terrible tragedy. Many thanks for teaching an ignorant Brit more of your country's history.

I have to admit that in spite of history's lessons, we never learn - 'we' meaning Mankind; it still lives in the dark ages and still has no understanding of what land and common rights mean nation from nation.

[Jaweena...Eileen Quinta..]

John...thank you for the reminder. Very well written...I appreciate your understanding of our experiences. You have always shown your support and love for Native Americans, even as a teenager when you were the only blond headed NDN among a sea of Natives!

[patricia]

where the hoop is still sacred and life is happy life is free
Thanks for reminding us how many people were wronged. They were innocent indeed.
Happy new year my friend. All the best to you and yours from Trish x

[SkinlessFrank]

John...you make these tragic ghosts too real for me at 7:00 in the morning sipping my coffee....i probably should have known that would happen before i began to read.