The White Man Came

I am Metis (French for mixed blood Native and European) For My Native Brothers and Sisters

We Were Here Before 

The White Man Came

He Brought Horses And Guns 

Which We Had Not Seen

He Brought His Disease

Laid My People To Rest 

He Said 'This Is Your Land'

Forced Us To The West

This Is A Great Land 

That Is A Fact

We'll Take It All

Here Is Your Patch 

We Were Here Before

The White Man Came

When He Destroys Himself

We Will Rise Again

Reviews

[Christy Sargent]

A sad but true piece. I have spent many years among the Native Americans of the southwest in Arizona. I married an Apache Indian from San Carlos. My three children are half Apache. I lived and taught school on the Navajo for many years. I married another man (whose son and daughter are half Navajo. So now all five of my children are half Native American. We live at the Grand Canyon, just up the hill from the reservation and are still quite involved with living among the Navajo and southwestern Native Americans. Here is what is really sad...the Natives who are destroying themselves.

[Ruth]

Everything sacred is taken away isn't it?!
This is an excellent poem!
xx

[.]

a great poignant piece with a message in the fabulous ending

[Stacey]

This is outstanding and in some ways I feel it an anthem or tribute piece. So much injustice in the world and you've done a beautiful job penning the subject. Wonderful write!

[Nautili]

very well done. The indian's plight of being a victim to the white man often overrides what a strong and resilient people they truly are. The last line drives hat fact home.

[OutsideSyntax]

Half my family being Metis, I enjoyed this write very much... The ignorance that drove the colonization of North America is far beyond disgusting... The colonists had a mind all intelect(like a knife all blade it cuts the hand that uses it) and no wisdom... The wisdom that could have been gained if they had genuinely met the Native American people in the middle, would have been profound... Instead the bigots route was taken... I hope history recalls the reality and full scope of the genocidal atrocities...

[Coyote Poetry]

I like the poem. The Native American lost more then their land. A great heritage faded away into the wind. Today the Native Americans are trying to find their place again. Ain't easy when there is no place. Ira Hayes said the correct words. "I'm a Pima Indian and a American." A strong poem to remember a once powerful people.
Coyote

[Brian W. Hastings]

Thank you for sharing this. Our history should never be forgotten.

[Tony]

It is important to be reminded of our history--
"those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it"

Thank you for sharing your work here-- powerful write.