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After Wounded Knee MAG
March 1, 2009
You still wear that old war paint
(angry lines slashed above your eyes)
I can feel you waiting for the battle to come
(spikes of red staining your cheeks)
There are no pawing horses now
No painted hands on their haunches
(the number of warrior souls you stole)
No noonday sun beating on bare backs
No smell of sweat and leather and bravery
Puncturing the familiar woodsmoke
(breastplates of porcupine quills, feathers in hair)
No ululations of war, yelling at fear
No singing, no dancing, no tribes, no homes
(scars left from the struggle free from the sun)
Just a drum drum drum beat
(a piece of flesh left for the Great Spirit)
Piercing through dreams.
© Olivia E., Alto, MI
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JOIN THE DISCUSSION
This article has 129 comments.
CressFerriera GOLD said...
on Apr. 27 2009 at 3:07 pm
Would be excellent, except for the fact that the phrases in the parenthesis are distracting from the poem's greatness
blackamethyst GOLD said...
on Apr. 22 2009 at 9:20 pm
this was really cool. i think its amazing that you can make this interesting -- it's something usually seen as a boring social studies topic. thanks for sharing!
Mikey123 or SallySunshine said...
on Mar. 19 2009 at 7:51 pm
Good imagery, I can see all that you describe. Way to go Elise.
jmartinsforever said...
on Mar. 18 2009 at 12:45 pm
this is a amazing poem. i can picture it and i love the words you used to describe things. good job elise!
Faysie said...
on Mar. 16 2009 at 7:28 pm
This poem captures us and catapults us anew into that historical tragedy with powerful images that we can see, hear, smell, and feel. The poet has a talent for description: I especially love "the smell of bravery" and "yelling at fear." Elise is a gifted poet indeed!
harblarghguh said...
on Mar. 16 2009 at 2:50 am
The vivid imagery and eloquent diction of this mastery of the English language positively enthralled me as i read it. It invoked emotions of pain, empathy, and remorse, yet left me feeling as thou my life was somehow more fulfilled.
e. w. said...
on Mar. 16 2009 at 2:17 am
Beautiful! Love the rhythm of this poem.
Ronayne said...
on Mar. 16 2009 at 12:39 am
What an amazing poem---and I love that it was inspired an historical event. This poem brings the Battle at Wounded Knee to the present. The sound and meaning relationship here is strong.
