The hills and the Apache

A old poem when I was seeking who I was. Written in 1992.

                       












                    





The hills and the Apache

I had a bottle of good tequila. A bag of some fresh lemons.
I drove for three hours to the California fault line.
Do some free-climbing and drink till I didn't give a s**t.

On my walk into the mountain.
A old Native American  begin to walk with me.
He looked at me. Told me. "You have came a long way.
Learn so little. I want to sit with you. Maybe we can learn from each other."

I told the man my name. My name is John. Just a soldier trying to forget.
The old man reached out and took my hand.

 Told me.  "I'm a old Apache. A old man seeking  friendship
and maybe we can share your magic juice. They call me White Buffalo"

I smiled and thought the man loco. But he looked safe. I told him he was welcome to
join my walk and drink the tequila.

He told me the story of tequila. "Tequila was once a plant for medicine. Could make the mind
find it sorrow and pain. Now white man drink the medicine for entertainment.'

I took the old man to my secret waterfall. Hidden in between four hills.  I have brought few to this spot.

White Buffalo told me. "This is a special place here. Captain Jack and his braves drank from this water many times in the past."

He unhooked his small drums. Gently sang a prayer to the Native Americans who lived and died here. I listen  to the prayer and wander into my thoughts.

The gentle tapping of the drum and the taste of the tequila made me think of people missed and lost on my journey to feel everything in life that can be felt.  Faces of people gone appeared in my thoughts. I desired forgiveness for leaving so many. So many things left behind.

White Buffalo stopped playing the drum. Create a fire with some sticks and  brought out a small pot. He put some water into the small pot. In a small bag he brought out some plants. I watched him break them apart and put them into the water.

He smiled and told me. "Today we will drink the ancient tea. We will watch the sun fall and rise. We will sing to the moon. We will become one with the waterfall and the mountain. We will become like the four hills. Able to take the pain and the burden of the seasons. Allow the pain and misery of yesterday to fade away."

I drank the tea. The old man face faded in and out. He was singing to the mountain. I had dreams of my brothers. Their faces were laughing and whispering to me. "We are Okay. One day we will find us again."

In the morning I awoke sitting against the rocks.

White Buffalo told me. " Life is long. Easy for no-one. The spirit of your blood must come alive. Allow the anger to turn to strength. Do some good things and don't repeat the same mistake twice. Your life must have direction. I love these hills and the waterfall. Some nights Captain Jack come to me. Whisper secrets of life and mystery. He told me. Native Americans must protect nature. We are responsible for the earth, the sky and the water."

White Buffalo shook my hand. He give me some stones and told me. "When anger overtake you. Hold the stones. Bring the anger  into the stone and live with the spirit of peace and kindness."

He left me alone on the cliff and waved goodbye to me. I wanted to thank him, but he disappeared quickly into the vast hills of the California fault line. I felt lighter and strong this morning.  I saw the clear sky and felt a new desire to be alive. I knew greed and hate must leave my thoughts and life. I had to find a reason to be alive.

I still remember White Buffalo words. Native Americans must teach the people of this world. To protect the animal, the earth, the green and the water..
  
                                  Coyote
                                 1992
 

Author's Note

A very old poem. Old thoughts and memories. Any mistakes. Please assist a old writer.

Reviews

[khalid]

people are the cause of all coruption on earth. imagine how earth was before manking come to live on it, i am sure there wasnt any kind of pollution! earth was then pure, vergin, clean, never touched. but after people started to settle when they started to farm lands, built houses, villages then cities, then the corrupt was the most after the industrial revolotion which started in England and then spread to all of your to other countries. but now, then what? where are we going and taking earth with us? what about the future of next generations? i think we should really be careful for our planet. thank you so much for this nice writing

[rivers]

Nicely done Coyote...This appeals to this reader at many personal levels...As man the journey is long but our time here is short and we live on someone else s land , the spirit of the universe...To be the stewards of mother earth...we must understand that our time here is short and others will follow as it has been for generations.The Native Americans were here before Rome was built and yet most have forgiven atrocities because spiritually and oneness with the universe is more important than a meaningless title to land stolen or material possessiveness...I have taken such walks alone on ancient lands and spoken with the spirits and have come to similar understanding. I seek nothing and live by a simple philosophy. "Waste not want not".The only difference on my walks was my American Indian half had such a conversation with my white half...You see I am a half breed American Indian...I have remained a part of my ancient culture and believe that my spiritually is the common thread connecting all things...It is a force of energy that transcends and connects all life...Thank you for sharing your journey. We need to be mindful of living way back then even if it is only now in our hearts and minds. Buy doing that, our journey can be an example of a walk taken in harmony with the earth.... Tatanka Oyate

[Aianarie (INACTIVE)]

Sentimental and deeply thoughtful, as most of your pieces are. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, thanks for sharing.

[Shep]

Love the poem and I can see you in it. Your words like always move me. My soul is lifted everytime I read one of your poemd. I must also thank you for reviewing mine when so many On WC pass me by or turn a blind eye.

[Norma M Sutton]

I like this, how it reads, the message and the visuals you have painted in my mind with it.

[Sarah]

What an awesome experience. I was very caught up in it, great write! So interesting. :)

[Call_Me_Miss_Imperfect]

This is quite wonderful. I enjoyed reading it very much, since I am half Native American. :)
Very great job.

Ashley Rivers--Dream BIG and you'll win BIG:)

[Mark]

I've always told myself some day I'd wander the deserts of the southwest. Great story, wise thoughts. Enjoyed reading very much. Are you looking for grammatical corrections?

[pinpen]

Simply wonderful, you have had a facinating life it sounds like.

[Cascara (aka Sprint Goe..]

you've met so many wonderful people in your life

thanks for sharing this