deepundergroundpoetry.com
Lakota Spirit
.
1 waƞží
looking east, the dawn
and autumn breaks
thunder's coming home
2 núƞpa
their voices rising
rain's tall grass leaning
children of the plains
3 yámni
clouds sing the winds
that coax the storm away
prairie drunk on morning
4 tópa
ponies whinny
grandfather walks the corral
hearing their stories
5 záptaƞ
women make fringed shawls
for daughters' fancy shawl dance
at the Rez pow wow
6 šákpe
drums and chants
call to the people who dance
the circle step by step
7 šakówiƞ
spiritual campfires
the story-teller elders
give us our tongues
8 šaglóǧaƞ
evening moon meetings
First Nation youth's friendships
revive their language
1 waƞží
looking east, the dawn
and autumn breaks
thunder's coming home
2 núƞpa
their voices rising
rain's tall grass leaning
children of the plains
3 yámni
clouds sing the winds
that coax the storm away
prairie drunk on morning
4 tópa
ponies whinny
grandfather walks the corral
hearing their stories
5 záptaƞ
women make fringed shawls
for daughters' fancy shawl dance
at the Rez pow wow
6 šákpe
drums and chants
call to the people who dance
the circle step by step
7 šakówiƞ
spiritual campfires
the story-teller elders
give us our tongues
8 šaglóǧaƞ
evening moon meetings
First Nation youth's friendships
revive their language
Published 25th Oct 2016
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Anonymous
- Edited 27th Dec 2019 12:45pm
25th Oct 2016 9:07am
<< post removed >>
25th Oct 2016 9:21am
Dear Am, how good it is to see you stopping by to embrace this little set of mine. I've always loved writing about the spirit people of the plains, history, traditions, and their modern struggles to hang on to even their dying languages. That latter part is what had me do the last stanzas. The Lakota tribes (Hunkpapa, Miniconjou, Oglala, etc) have been trying to save their original tongue. I've been encouraged by their efforts even though they aren't at a point yet to guarantee its survival.
25th Oct 2016 11:18am
The archaic words are only understood by the elders who are now fading away with time. Mine is. I know the language still, but not of the shaman's. I admire this poem and I salute your talent:) Jade.
25th Oct 2016 12:16pm
Thank you so much, dear Grace, that means a lot to me. And I know of the plight around the world, not only in North America, of thousands of native languages that have disappeared or will be within the next fifty years. It's shocking, and you know firsthand what is fading from the collective memory of where you're from.
25th Oct 2016 12:54pm
25th Oct 2016 2:03pm
...and it does one's spirit good when the drums and chantings are from the people's own heart and history, in their original language.
Thank you, John, for your input and embrace.
Thank you, John, for your input and embrace.
25th Oct 2016 1:41pm
Such a beautiful piece, Jade! I can close my eyes and see the images painted by your words, and they are beautiful. :)
25th Oct 2016 2:07pm
Oh my thank you, dear Willow, I'm honored that you put your faith in my express, and let it take you to the land and its spirit.
Beautiful, Jade! Absolutely magical in imagery and emotional evocation!
Osda sunale.
Osda sunale.
26th Oct 2016 3:17am
Osda svhiyeyi.🌛
Ahh dear Ahavati, thank you so very much for sharing your embrace of my set! I looked so forward to learning of your thoughts, and I feel very honored.
Ahh dear Ahavati, thank you so very much for sharing your embrace of my set! I looked so forward to learning of your thoughts, and I feel very honored.
25th Oct 2016 10:26pm
Moved to the very core of my being...
I hear the herd's thunder, see the White Buffalo Calf Woman, smell the pipe's smoke blown in prayer to all in the world... Such is the power of your words...
geoff
I hear the herd's thunder, see the White Buffalo Calf Woman, smell the pipe's smoke blown in prayer to all in the world... Such is the power of your words...
geoff
26th Oct 2016 3:24am
Oh gosh Geoffrey, your visions touch me deeply. In fact, while I composed the set, I was holding the image of White Buffalo Calf Woman in my mind's eye all the while... such serenity embraced me.
Thank you so much for the recommendation.
Thank you so much for the recommendation.
26th Oct 2016 1:35am
26th Oct 2016 3:27am
Thank you for stopping by for a read and a share, Naajir, I'm very touched. Oh yes, the experience of the First Nation pow wows are compelling, and draw the people together.
28th Oct 2016 4:18am
And suddenly, I feel nostalgic .
..your presence to me is and always
have been powerful..
Beautiful uplifting lesson, very well
received..
-Howlings
..your presence to me is and always
have been powerful..
Beautiful uplifting lesson, very well
received..
-Howlings
My darling Howlings, your embrace of my messages are always high honors coming from you, I hope the nostalgia carries you and blesses you.
ever
-Jade🌾
ever
-Jade🌾
