THUNDERBIRD

Notes below. 06 16 14

A cumulus of transcendence seeped from a dream

to coagulate in a recall of time and define a haunted purpose

 

A failed horse patrol cackled in the quakes

of a geographic grudge shushed by the menacing benevolence

of an aviary lord of lightning

 

Benevolence he never severed even when our Ferris wheels

forced him and his thunder clan to heights immune to human charts

heights of truth where his echoes live

 

Truth and benevolence...threads sutured to the rain and fire

resident regalia sent to see to the water cult's suffocation

and the boiling of the veins circulating human hate for good measure

 

The fire and the rain the Great Thunderbird governed

shunning theories as to how they gelled to navigate

doubled-over canyons of the human's ways

 

Epiphany engulfed the frightened horse seeker from behind...

a commission from the great Wakinyan Tanka

 

The new heyoka's life and horses saved by rescinded history

and the sealing bolts of Wakinyan officiation

 

Fire...rain...truth...benevolence

White dream...Sioux transcendence

Only room for two on the plane

Author's Note

Inspired by the Native American (Sioux) legend of Wakinyan Tanka, The Great Thunderbird, and unconditional protector of humans from Unktehi, the ground-based water monster, and hater of humans.

My poem was inspired primarily by the legend as told by Lame Deer, Sioux medicine man, in 1969, and documented in American Indian Myths And Legends (eds. Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz).

Heyoka: "Everything in nature moves in a certain way that whites call clockwise. Only the thunder beings move in a contrary manner...that's their way, they do everything differently. That's why, if you dream of the Wakinyan, you become a "heyoka," an upside-down, hot-cold, forward-backward man. This gives you power, but you don't want to stay a heyoka for long, so we have a ceremony through which you can become your old self again." - Lame Deer

Reviews

[WritersRankings]

Your opening line was very sublime. You continue to display some of the most meaningful, authentic and emphatic vocabulary. That alone, sets you apart in your skill in this craft but also your existential suffering has tremendous 'echo' in your verse as well.

Steve is a poet of transcendent reverb able to postulate the prophecy of surreal truths naked from the land of dream-poetry.

[kublakhan27]

Thank you so much for the kind words, I am truly humbled and honoured.

[Shirlena]

I love folklore and culture poetry...it's good to get outside of your own culture to see someone else's vantage point and appreciate differences. I didn't understand it but it was so interesting I couldn't deny the effect it had on me to read it. It is thrilling and thank you for the back story.

[kublakhan27]

So glad you enjoyed it my friend...I was looking for something different and I've had this encyclopedia of Native American legends on my shelf for the longest time, so I finally decided to start exploring it...I suppose you'd have to read the whole entry to get the gist of it but a bit of mystery never hurt anyone...thanks as always for the support :)

[John Anderson]

Very powerful delivery on this one.

[kublakhan27]

Thank you John :)

[ms. barrie]

hi Mr. Steve...first off...I love the serene imagery of
cumulus clouds transcending...You captured those clouds essence,
brilliantly! My favorite clouds in the sky.

this is very spiritual, dreamy and insightful. amazing imagery...
Very unique, reminds me of spirit guides whispering
wisdom in one's ear. I agree, the last stanza is breath taking...
a bit of a chill...premonition...perhaps?

Floyd's accompanying music "learning to fly" - is a perfect
choice for this gem of a poem. loved your author's note...
loved to read what inspired this...And learning the legend of the Sioux
Native Americans. brilliantly crafted poem...thanks for
taking me away for a bit...favs.!!! 100/100

[kublakhan27]

You have made my day with your review Miss Barrie...you're just spot-on with all the feelings that were swirling around in my mind while I was working on it...as you can probably guess, it took a few days to get this one done because of the research and all, but it was well worth it...there are also some double meanings in certain parts that nobody has pointed out yet ;) I'm so happy that it had these effects on you, the dreaminess, spirituality, wisdom, and so on...I always worry when I write historical pieces cuz you're not allowed to get anything wrong, cuz they're facts, yet you still have to apply your own poetic voice to it, so that makes your review and kind words all the more meaningful to me :) That song was a no-brainer for me, and so was the video, which just seemed to fit...I knew that was going to be the musical link long before I finished it ;) Thanks so much dear friend :)) xoo

[ms. barrie]

You're very welcome..Mr. Steve...was a pleasure to read....something
I needed to read. I admit reading this a few times and typing up that
review, that I was afraid I missed the mark. though your words made me
or reminded me of all that you mentioned.

I know how that is...I have yet to start my horror novel due to
the daunting task of historical research...And I've had that concept in
My brain since 08'!
And the research for my current writing project, upcoming writings
need research, so I can relate.

Yes I first saw the video...as the ever welcoming ads were loading
And thought... wow, when I read your first opening line.

You're very welcome, Dear friend! keep shining on, with your brilliant pen of
yours. always enjoy visiting your writes! :)) xo

[kublakhan27]

Haha Truth be told, I'm a lazy researcher, but if I come across a story that intrigues me enough, then my mind won't let me rest till I've looked into it ;P You just have to dig down and do it sometimes...and there is a sense of accomplishment that comes from researching as well :) Thank you as always for the support my dear friend...my pen may need a break after this one but I'll get it going again soon :)) xo

[ms. barrie]

Lol I'm just lazy period but I'm challenging myself to fight it...
And my over thinking...that's when for me everything
comes to a halt!

I thank you as well for your supportive words esp on wicked...
I look forward to reading your upcoming writes! I'll try not to
Be too slow on the uptake...this project is possessing me lol
hugs and faerie dust :))))

[Frontier]

"A cumulus of transcendence seeped from a dream
to coagulate in a recall of time and define a haunted purpose" - great line! The concept of a haunted purpose seems so interesting.


"Fire...rain...truth...benevolence
White dream...Sioux transcendence
Only room for two on the plane" - Interesting ending, unforseen and somehow it fits in too.

[kublakhan27]

So glad you enjoyed it Frontier, I wanted to relay a sense of dreaminess so I'm glad I was able to intrigue you with this one...many thanks.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

sometimes i wish i had been born native american, back in the early days...they are so spiritual, appreciate the land, nature...lived with it so well...

not like we do...and i still feel guilt about how we treated the native americans when we came to america...like it belonged to us...who the hell were and are we to think that?

wonderful piece...you really give a sense of a people we should appreciate to the fullest.

[kublakhan27]

I think it is those feelings of guilt that prompted me to write this one...I've had that anthology on my shelf for a few years and I finally decided to start navigating through it...I also would have liked to live in that time, before the whites arrived and all hell broke loose...and even though I'm Canadian, we did the exact same things to our natives...the "residential schools" we put them in was the absolute bottom of the barrel...some of the things that happened there are too indecent to cover here...so glad that this one resonated so deeply with you my friend.

[A. Amos]

Interesting write different from your usual poetry yet I truly enjoyed...great work

love Pink Floyd...thanks for the song

[kublakhan27]

I've been raiding some of the books that have been on my shelf for a while...I've been in a dry spell and needed a change...I love Floyd as well and that song and video just seemed to fit...glad you enjoyed it Amos

[A. Amos]

I met Roger Waters in Dubai, he was there for a Concert and was staying in the same hotel where I was staying. I went to his concert and it was amazing, I was sitting in lobby bar when he walked in and I have to take a sign of the legend...which completed my 'The Wall' CD. It was interesting my friend truly enjoyable and you're most welcome

[kublakhan27]

Wow, that is an amazingly cool story...I would have loved to see the Wall performance, it was so epic...I have a bootleg copy with very good quality...then again every tour was pretty mind-blowing visually.

[A. Amos]

Well if they perform together and come to America will let you know, otherwise both Roger and David are again back to Solo concerts...

[Frieda P]

Did you write this one on peyote? This is like new skin for the old ceremony... What a trip, I think I need a few reads or some muchly needed sleep to decipher all of it. As long as the 'two' on the plane includes me, I'm good with it Benji....as always, you're a madman or a genius, or both, which is a good thing in my book. We must be thunder beings so? ;-) xo

[kublakhan27]

Hahaha No but I almost wrote one about peyote...as mentioned, I have this book and I've been meaning to get into it for ages and I finally did it this weekend...new skin, I like that ;) I think I lean towards madman but you know I'd say that anyway...yes I think we are agents of thunder and lightning...actually that's a Thin Lizzy song now that I think of it haha Thank you as always for lifting my spirits Mrs.R :) xo

[Lyn Anderson]

This is an incredible piece. Have you anything on Canadian history, lore etc., that I have not read? I would love to read it. Send me RR's for anything you think I might like. Way back I read a great piece by Thomas Fitzgerald on Ireland. It made me envious I had not written something comparable on Canada and still have not. Sami also mentioned I should write a historical piece, and I have yet to live up to the challenge.

[kublakhan27]

I do have several pieces of Canadiana that I will search for and pass along...this is actually the first time I've written on an American subject...as mentioned in the notes, I had this book for ages meaning to explore it and I found a couple of others I may tackle as well...thanks as always for the input K

[Troy Henson]

Truly inspiring piece filled with meaning and purpose.

Regards
Troy

[kublakhan27]

Thank you Troy, so glad you enjoyed it.

[Cory Barrett]

You have enlightened me today, and in the most eloquent of ways. Thank you

[kublakhan27]

Thanks so much my friend...it means a lot to know that I can speak to someone on a deep level with my writing, and inspires me to keep going.