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This is a poem that, it seems, I wrote while I was asleep.
When I woke up one morning, beside my bed was my notebook, with many
scribbles on an open page. I instantaneously remembered that, in my
dream, I had written a poem and it seemed to have had some great message
for me but, there on the page, was only scribbles.
I knelt down to say my prayers and as I was asking for my day to be
filled with good things for those I would come in contact with and for
blessings of safety to be upon me throughout the day, I was prompted to
ask for help to remember what it was that I had written.
Immediately, I got up and sat on the side of my bed and began to write
this poem without any hesitation. As I read it over, I made no changes
or alterations. I told a close friend of mine, who is of Shoshone
descent, and he said that he too had written something very similar. I
later told a friend, who was an Apache, and he said he too had written
almost exactly the same thing I had. I have a very strong feeling that
it won't be long before we, as Native People, will become the people
that the Creator wants us to be.
The poem:
GRANDFATHERS, WHAT HAVE WE DONE?
We hang our heads low, not because of tiredness, but because of shame
Our gift, our inheritance, our land is lost.
Did we not share enough?
Did we not let our hearts, wherein you dwell, rule?
Will you not rule again, therein.
Grandfathers, hear us!
We were as the sleeping earth in winter,
We are now awakening as the spring.
It is now the season of renewal and growth.
We shall again blossom forth in the summer of time
To bloom in all the glory as the nature of your own creation.
Hear again, Grandfathers!
We will return to the beliefs, we have long forgotten
For they are still within us, hidden deep.
We will again become leaders of this great land,
Our heads high and proud,
Our dark skin reflecting your light
We will again become delightsome.
Grandfathers!
Your words will again live within our hearts,
You will rule again in our lives,
We will make you proud,
We will grow,
We will be that great nation we once were
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