Ancient warrior

Blood cannot change. Sometime must go back to your place of birth to learn peace.

                     

   Ancient warrior

I drove to the forest.
Away from the city.
I took my grandson with me to learn the spirit of the forest.
We walked deep into the safety of the woods and
the friendship of the wind.
I watched the birds and animals fly and roam free.

I found a river.
The water was strong and still clean from man's pollution.
I took out my sage. I lit the sage.
Said a quiet prayer.

I walked along the river.
Three year old Grandson followed.

"Spirit of life and death.
Please give me strength and wisdom.
Protect the water, the earth and the sky.
Allow the spirit of the hawk and wolf to send wisdom
to the leaders of this world.
So much war and violence.
Hate had overtook kindness."

I heard a quiet whisper in the wind.
"Ancient Warrior. Put your feet into the river.
Refresh your body and heart. Allow nature to absorb your pain."

I put my feet into the water. My grandson does the same.
I looked to the sky and whispered.
"Thank you spirit of life and death.
Thank you for the drinking water.
Thank you for the green earth.
Thank you for the clean air."

I raised my hand to the sky.
I allowed the sage smoke to spread around me and my grandson.
I knew the truth. I relearn many times in my life.

"We are one people on one planet.
We must live together in peace.
We must know peace for the sake of the children."

People tell me.
Man is foolish.
He cannot know peace. He cannot live without war.
Will a nuclear weapon killing a million people?
Will their screams of cities show the way to peace?

Old ancient warrior watches his grandson run through the forest.
He wondered what kind of world did he leave for his grandchild?

                            Coyote
                            Sept. 2012

Author's Note

People tell me. War is a part of us. One day when we are all dead. What will be remembered about the race of man?

Reviews

[Kaylor Mason]

That's a very good question. That's one reason I became a writer, rather than a soldier. Wars come, and wars go, and soldiers always die in the end and become dust . . . but our written words are eternal, and they live on forever. As necessary as soldiers are to society (and as much as I admire them,) something tells me being a writer is more of a lasting legacy than being a soldier

[Caradoc]

And when we are all dead and gone, who then will read the words of hearts? Even though we may leave our legacies in stone, as did our ancient ancestors, who might be left to wonder at our passing?

Depressing I know, but as a writer, I think on these questions often.

-Caradoc

[deepblue04]

not much except for the history. then the new race will take over and would make the young forget what has happened beroe. anyways, i like the story that's in here. Good job!!!

[Sheila Kline]

You pose a question that evokes so many different answers to we humans, but I feel as you in that we must understand what causes this war.....why do we have to have so much power by bloodshed, why do we not understand the struggles of our ancestors more clearly, and on and on.
This is a thought provoking, exceptional piece from you my friend, who has indeed seen so very much of the "real" side of life, and knows how to express the advantages and disadvantages of it!
Yes, we must know peace for the sake of the children!!!!
A truly wonderful write that is going in my favorite's library!!

[de_maruf]

war is a part of life but isn't life is a war itself? how you people are think i don't know but i would say life is a war if you are a warrior.
whatever i am a trainee to you all. i myself getting the power to more imagine with your thoughtful poem. i don't know how to review one. but i like to read and also this type of poem.

--de

[Cerise]

omg...my gudnesss..it was so touching and sensational...it was phenomenal...i loved the way you have thanked nature..the way you have given more emphasis on multiple things like nature and how thankful we should be and try to keep the surroundings from polluting.....how we should live life of peace for the sake of future generation..truly amazing..would love to c some more this type of profound poems..:)

[Mark]

Great poem Coyote. Personally, I think mankind is capable of great things. Some of things are evil and destructive. Some are beautiful and inspire awe. I wonder if other intelligence in the Universe is like us or would they shake their head in learning who and what we are?

[Forgotten]

This is beautiful, just to help you out, i think you meant to spell 'of' instead of 'if' in the 4th stanza, 4th line. But anyway I loved this, it is a great question for any generation to come ahead of us, what kind of world are we leaving the children of the future. Always an inspiration to read your work, great work.