Empty spaces

A poem of question.

                                   Empty spaces

Once I was dancing, rambling, drinking and free man. I was seeking the good death. Wanted to test my mind, I wanted  to test my body. I wanted to understand war, I wanted to understand people.

I learn the Hemingway's wisdom. Men are foolish. They kill and kill till they cannot no-more. Men were the beast and the poor animals of our world. Just additional kill for land and profit. I learn somewhere in time. Some men knew. Separates live, different languages and different continents mean they could confuse the mind of men. 

Today the world is smaller. New tech had introduce me to many cultures. I went to six war zones and I saw the eyes of the poor people. I saw the eyes of fear, the eyes of confusion. The children's eyes, they broke my heart. Living in hell and not knowing where their next meal would come. Seeking shelter, seeking clean water and eatable food. 

Many kind charity organization try to assist. The hatred and the greed of our leader make it impossible for the kind people to keep up with the greed of the warmongers and the profit makers.

                              "Empty spaces

Once I bury a dozen women and small children in a mass grave,

I had tears in my eyes as I tossed the Africa dirt on the poor strangers,

I never knew.

I looked at the sky and I asked God. Why do the women and women suffer for the hate of men?

Us soldiers, we never talk of these things we had to do. We were send to clean-up messes of hateful men.

I saw the belly of the children starving in Africa. I volunteered to cook easy food and soups. Us soldiers gave, all we had to give. I learn, my life wasn't so hard. 

Today men speak of war and forget the true war. Starvation touches every continent. Our rich leaders eating steak and the poor people trying to survive. My USA spend 1.2 trillion on war. 

Please listen to our leaders. Do they speak of peace? Do they speak of education to ensure our children can succeed? Do they seek friendship by gifts of food, clean water and resources to the nations in need in our world?

I have empty spaces, that want to scream-out. But, can the blind in kindness see. This is one world and one people.

President Clinton send me to Africa three times. We brought medical teams and soldiers who volunteered to help in the nineties. We create new friendships and we tried to help. I learn concern, kindness and to listen. We did some. 

Old man joke, told to me. "The biggest lie is sending soldiers, tanks and planes, then call this a peace mission." Peace is given with the gift of food, water, shelter and medical treatment. "

I am a old man now and I see the trickery of men seeking new war. Threats instead of the open hand of friendship. Many believe war is a part of man. I do not believe this. Do the soldiers make profit? Do the poor people in the way of war, make profit? No.

Once great chief Pontiac wrote after they destroyed the Ohio forest. " Why does the white man want to destroy all thing that are beautiful? Do they hate the land and the people?"

(Chief Tecumseh of the Shawsees poem)

Where today are the Pequot? Where are the Narragansett, the Mohican, the Pokanoket, and many other once powerful tribes of our people? They have vanished before the avarice and the oppression of the White Man, as snow before a summer sun. Will we let ourselves be destroyed in our turn without a struggle, give up our homes, our country bequeathed to us by the Great Spirit, the graves of our dead and everything that is dear and sacred to us? I know you will cry with me, 'Never! Never."

Thank you 

John Coyote

Author's Note

just words.

Reviews

[Jon Roggie]

Tired? I know the feeling. We are the ones standing in the empty places, holding the memories close.
We hand down the stories, and some listen, even when we don't notice. The story we tell is our lives, and our dreams for the future. Hopefully, the words had some effect.

[Coyote Poetry]

We do hope Jon. But new generation is blinded by game systems and few love the forest and the sea. I hope we learn ASAP. War isn't the road to peace. Thank you my fiend for reading and the comment.

[Jon Roggie]

Some learn. Cousin teaches his grandchildren fishing in Oregon, and a niece is teaching her son down in Australia. War is never the answer, more of a failure. Part of what we should teach.
Thank you for your insights.
Jon

[Gypsy Dreamer]

Coyote Poetry,
You have a unique understanding and view of life, of what really is going on behind the snow covered scenes. War is profit for man. I do truly believe that our President Trump is trying to keep bad men away from the United States and even away from all nations. I do believe he wants peace and will not tolerate threats to us. This is the only time I believe in fighting which is for our safety and safety of our soldiers. I believe you when you say that Clinton talked of a Peace mission only to really do war. The Clintons are evil in my eyes. They are liars. It's taking a long time to try and clean up some of the mess the Clintons, Obama and even Bush has done, yet I feel Trump will do his best. Wonderful words you wrote.

[Coyote Poetry]

Clinton years, no war. That was a blessing. After Clinton, Bush attacked and the whole world fell to confusion. I pray we learn. Can't save the world, if the world doesn't want to be saved. I volunteered three times to go with the United Nation for Food, water and medicine missions. My job was to sanitize the water and ensure we had gas to run the generators. Trump is doing some, but can't fix 16 years of bad leadership in one term. Thank you my friend for reading and the comment.

[Katrina Mckeown]

This is such a sad poignant piece of writing Coyote, I detest our selfish war and power hungry leaders! So many innocent being hurt! Such tragedies and human waste which leaves a bitter after taste! Made me tear up!

[Coyote Poetry]

Me too Katrina. No winners in war. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[Katrina Mckeown]

No there isn’t, sad but true! You are very welcome Coyote, thank you for writing this thought provoking piece.
Kudos

[Dave Brown]

We are a badly flawed species
where do you start and how do you stop listing the damage we have both done and continue to do

[Coyote Poetry]

I hope soon. Old earth will survive man damage and regrow. Men may find their own final page. Thank you Dave for reading and the comment.

[Jennifer Patino]

I've read your writing elsewhere & am glad to be reading it here.

Wonderful piece, as yours always are. It definitely made this Ojibwe woman tear up.

[Coyote Poetry]

Hello Jennifer. I worry for my world. I am 1/2 Ojibwa and I hold this part very close. I burn sage and pray. Thank you for reading and nice to had met you.

[Jennifer Patino]

I understand completely. I too pray, burn sage & lay tobacco down. I still say thank you for the life Mother Earth gives. I believe we're in good hands despite what we have to live through. It's heartbreaking though. It truly is.