Peace Pipes in a Natural History Museum

Peace Pipes in a Natural History Museum

 

 

share the feast 

they proclaimed

 

and then our guns 

were aimed

 

massive treachery

to those who fared

 

so ill at the hands

of soldiers who dared

 

declare ownership of property

with no liens, only God's

 

and to this day, the conscience of a nation

is still at odds

 

hearts died against white monuments

the pedestal of grief, saddles vacant

 

let's celebrate the old land, once new

and the reservations made adjacent

 

tiny real estate where nothing could be grown

except loss of identity

 

they loved and lived on and with a land

one we've misunderstood a grave eternity

 

relevance a distant drum pounding

understanding, an all but silent hum sounding.

 

 

erin-cilberto

11/24/2021

Reviews

[Gee]

Hmmmmm, the poor old native Americans were treated real shabby as were many other native folk in other lands...greed and fear
Hope you are well Jacob

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, greed and fear....and appreciation from me to you for your words, Gee.
we have known each other for a long time now on this site...for that I am glad.
j.

[Gee]

As am I Jacob. Take care

[shadrach hah]

Hi Jacob, yes, it was terrible, things are done for man's greed, always wanting more than their share. The Native Americans paid a high price, the greatest of all, their freedom to live in lands that had ever been theirs. Makes me both angry and sad to think on this. A powerful write, telling of a reality one should not forget. Have a wonderful Wednesday....Mike.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I know I will never forget it...I appreciate you, Mike,
thanks
j.

[shadrach hah]

You are welcome, Jacob. I do appreciate the creativity and skill that comes through in your poetry. Have a wonderful Thursday.....Michael.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

The great American Genocide has been too easily conveniently forgotten by U.S. History. Thanks for the gentle reminder.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Fabian,
j.

[lessa (kenzie)]

Powerful read with truth, loved the rhyming parts...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Kenzie,
j.

[Coyote Poetry]

Powerful and true words shared Jacob.
"relevance a distant drum pounding
understanding, an all but silent hum sounding"
It is true. The winner decide the story written. The Native American real story need to be written. Helen Jackson wrote the only true books. A Century of dishonor. Thank you my friend for sharing the powerful poetry and your thoughts.
Coyote

[jacob erin-cilberto]

maybe someday it will be...thank you, Coyote,
j.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome Jacob.

[Ted Kniffen]

The American history with the indigenous tribes is a bit different from ours (Canada's) but ours is no less unsavoury. As you may have read in the news recently there have been discoveries of the unmarked graves of indigenous children who died while in gov't sponsored residential schools. I'm sure there will be clearer facts coming forward as to numbers and reason for these deaths.

Suffice to say that there has been a rush to judgement without clear and rightful investigation.

I'm sure there is truth to the stories and still more to come. We have not done a decent job of helping
our indigenous neighbours ... then or now.

Good job j. Like Chris, I like the rhyme scheme.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

No, we have not done a decent job...that is for sure.
thank you for your understanding review, Ted,
j.

[Chris Shaw]

The history of your nation shows its unsavoury side. We have that too. We have to accept and live with our wrong doings and learn from them. We can't change the past and what our forebears did, but we can certainly make sure we don't go down the same toxic path. You are rhyming J, your muse has given you rhyme. I enjoyed it.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

really unsavory....you are so spot on, Chris.
I feel ashamed.
and yes, a bit of rhyme creeps in every so often.
I am not very good at it...but when it comes naturally, I let it.
j.

[Dave Brown]

To me this stirs emotions of how our native societies have constantly suffered ever since those first days of contact.
Taking it further it also magnifies how all contact with the white race has been turned into different levels of suppression
I often find myself with a faulty lack of concern and then reflect on the miserable conditions, especially in the early days of white man's aggression , that natives were forced to endure and then we offer two faced displays of their culture to supposedly make amends.
Not sure if this is where you were going but it is where you took me

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Pretty spot on, Dave...much emotion, guilt and regret here, for what we as a country did...
thank you for the read and your understanding response,
j.

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Jacob… when I was almost 40 years old.. I visited Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. where active Americans were in a large Circle .. passing a Peace Pipe to be shared.. they asked me to join them which I did… one of the most sacred moments of my Life. Now my Son Robert is married to a Navajo Woman and they have two young daughters together. I am so Proud of their Heritage… and just spent Thanksgiving with them in 2021. gently, Pat