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The new heyoka's life and horses saved by rescinded history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

[redflutterby]

There is nothing as eloquent as a rattlesnakes tail. - Navajo

Did I ever tell you my grandfather was half Navajo? Very interesting people...the dineh as they called themselves. I love this poem Steve...especially that last stanza. The whole thing gave me chills. Your writing is always superb! xo

[kublakhan27]

I don't believe you've mentioned it before, but I'm glad to know as I was really hoping for some Native input on this one to find out if I was at least on the right track...I'm so glad you enjoyed this one my dear friend, I can't tell you how valuable your support is :) xo

[Saddam]

Fire...rain...truth...benevolence
White dream...Sioux transcendence
Only room for two on the plane.

Another master piece by a master man. A great poetry.

[kublakhan27]

Thanks so much my friend, your kind words truly mean a lot :)