Trailing Tears from the Earth Mother pique Sky Father’s awareness

A very special collaboration with poet Margie Willis. Inspired by the spiritual beauty of the indigenous native American cultures.

Trailing Tears from the Earth Mother

pique Sky Father’s awareness...

By

Margie Willis and Carlos Lorenzo Estrada 

Grant me eyes like the Eagle

a heart sturdy like Bear

weave my dreams upon the fire

breathe my love like the air

In spirit I wander in winter’s stream

wept by the Earth Mother’s tears

the Sky Father shines the path for me

to rise above my fears

Bestow me wisdom of great wise owl

and flighty nature of hare that roams free

teach me the song of the lonesome wolf

in the chants of the warrior Cherokee

Let me run in the spirit of the stallion

find harmony with the wild Buffalo

dreams whispered of our ancestors

in the colors of nature that grow

This chant I weep for my people

this dance I do is for our ghosts

in trail of tears you will hear them

by the winds which guide us home

Oh! Wandering Wolf of wintry stream!

Scatter Earth Mother’s moon drops

terra incognita years

Conejo escondido fears

trickling . . . trickster . . . Coyote

Sky Father’s howling awareness

a dreamcatcher caught in moment

torching her meltwater tears

Oh! Great Spirit on a soaring wingover!

Grant us the eyes of an Eagle

to picture infinity

an intrinsic trinity

perception divinity

lumbering . . . slumbering . . . Bear

robust heart hides a burnishing kiln

inhaling love essence like air

Oh! Industrious Ant in graceful toil!

Grant us the poise of busy hands

echoes of the ancient chants

stir the solidarity of ants

spontaneous brethren dance

a mantel of Tatanka in harmony

Sky Father shine your flight for we

to where all mortals can be free

Oh! Spiral of the whirling dervish!

Grant us the thunder of Stallion

varnish our tearful trail with resolve

healing thunder instead of plunder

give us dreamscapes of our ancestors

to etch humanity into our hearts.

Author's Note

"Poet-friend Carlos Lorenzo Estrada joined me in listening to flute/drumming music, which inspired us to pass the peace pipe and collaborate on this poem . . ." -Margie Willis

I want to thank Margie who actually inspired the writing of this collaborative work. Her spirit and love for nature is undeniable as we here know from the art she submitted in our community. I count myself blessed to be a part of this unique collaborative poetic experience. The poem itself is of two unique styles and yet woven in the art are two voices that worked as one on each sentence and word. It is truly a labor of love for a culture of the first true American whose spirit and hope can never to forgotten, nor erased from history. It is also dedicated to the poets of this remarkable community of writers. -Carlos Lorenzo Estrada

Reviews

[Lisasview]

Wonderful, deep poem.. and lucky you to have collaborated on this poem.. The beauty of it speaks through the marvellous lines..
So glad I found your poem this evening, while waiting for my husband to grill fish.. and drinking great Spanish red wine..
Lisa, now in Costa Blanca, Spain

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Lisa for taking the time to comment on this poem I appreciate it. There is so much depth and color exhibited in this piece. Most I must admit from Margie who did some amazing work on this poem. Two different styles that I feel compliment one another and speak to the grandeur of the native American philosophies and beliefs. A culture so vastly rich in the nature that defines it. After its completion and proof reading it I began to imagine myself out in the wild running with the Buffalo under a full moon. Truly liberated in spirit and one with nature. Thank you again Lisa for your words.

[William Michael Reeves]

That was a powerfully natural poem. No need for a video when the words create such vivid images. And I learned something. Tatanka is a bison. I do wish you went into more detail on the collaboration. Was it back and forth?

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Yes it indeed was a back and forth. The first draft was no more then around 12 lines. It took weeks after challenging one another to just let go and not worry about any rules or ryhme scheme. Then edited each of our lines when needed. Let it stew a few more days to re-read and change or edit more. It took time but was so worthwhile an endeavor. I love the ending results because there is such a spiritual essence of nature in this piece that we both strive for at its completion. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this poem.

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree my friend.
"Oh! Spiral of the whirling dervish!
Grant us the thunder of Stallion
varnish our tearful trail with resolve
healing thunder instead of plunder
give us dreamscapes of our ancestors
to etch humanity into our hearts."
I loved the above lines. I wish we learn ASAP. We need nature more than she needs us. Thank you Carlos for sharing the outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you CP for sharing your thoughts on this poem. Margie aka Barleygirl wrote that incredibly powerful line. I love this poem so much because of its depth and beauty. This collaborative effort had a flow to it that surprised even me. There is a spiritual essence of nature that exudes from this piece both in a patriarchal and matriarchal sense. It truly was a joy to write with her.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome my friend.

[Shelley Warner]

I love Native American culture with the emphasis on nature. This was a loving collaborative piece of writing.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Shelley I really appreciate it. And I'm sure Margie does as well. I had so much fun being a part of this effort. Creativity is best when shared in collaborative effort on something greater than ourselves.

[M. J. Smith]

Sadly, culture and spirit are passing into memory as elders die. Few are left to keep the dreams. A most evocative piece. Only fragments of my own Celtic culture remain, cast into fairy tales and stereotypes. Thank you for sharing this amazing poem, my friend.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me on this poem. It is very important to hold onto culture because of the traditional significance it has in an individual identity. Those roots must never be severed because it leaves an emptiness within one's soul. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts.

[M. J. Smith]

Thank you for remembering that our ancestors live on in us. As stated in another comment, it is I who owe you. My faith as a poet is restored.

[MidnightStar]

A well penned piece of poetry with great imagery and the metaphorical visuals are just simply beautiful. Indeed a great read and share. "healing thunder instead of plunder
give us dreamscapes of our ancestors
to etch humanity into our hearts." - the ending is just stunning on so many levels with the depth of a soul searching tint...

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you so much for your kind words. This collaborative poem truly was a labor of love. Ms. Willis is a talented poet and I felt so honored to be a part of this experience. The depth and motherly nature this piece exudes is because of her. The first draft was very short and to the point. But after we had a discussion to just let our creativity flow and not worry about rules or limits the piece came to life. I'm so proud of the results, for to me it is a beautiful piece of poetry. It takes the reader into a journey of a culture filled with mysticism and adoration of nature, as well as its profound love of it. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts on this poem with the both of us.

[MidnightStar]

You are most welcome. You might already know this, still, I feel like like I need to remind you one thing about poetry. Forgive me if I am wrong about it but this is how I feel it: poetry is written from the hidden depths of the soul , like a crushed mirror of one's heart. It cannot be written by the mind - it wouldn't sound write if that would be the case. That is the reason why is said that a poet cannot lie, because their ink is spilled from the soul, not from the mind. Therefore, just don't think... just write down as you feel it, as it comes to you from deep within. Editing is ok, as long as you don't "THINK" but "FEEL" the changes you make... I hope it all makes sense to you... You most likely already know all this :)

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you dearly for your words. They are exactly what I try to preach to younger writers. Especially when it comes to poetry. You are given few lines to be impactful to the readers heart. Be emotive make them feel not just see. I find writing poetry to be a very personal experience because it requires of me to open up myself and share on an emotional level with the reader the insights of my heart. How I see the world. How I exist in it. Feel it. And love. It is why I tend to be overly descriptive because I want them to have that experience with me on an emotional level. To relate, understand, and empathize. To find their better humanity within. The art that is remembered the most is the one that asks you to feel beyond the self. It is why we bleed for our art because within it are pieces of us, and the love we share with the reader. Thank you again for your kind words. It means a lot to this old heart of mine.

[MidnightStar]

No heart is too old - it is just a scar bearing, pulsing heart until it is not anymore. Only a few have the privilege to be blessed with the gift of feeling the letter's fabric through the veil of words. And I am one of them.. And so are you... Keep writing until the last letter sieves through your fragile soul. By doing so, you will do this world a favour... Your words can heal a soul, soothe a scar and lessen the pain of this world in so much need of healing...