To Reach Beyond. Ojibway poem
Lament :
This black night covers swiftly
silts blue and rose,
becomes pewter, obsidian.
Run from the dark!
Nowhere to go!
Flung particles of day
spark ebony night.
I see round-fire arise.
Its ice-fire is warm;
I am cold, I am so cold.
My eyes burn with watching
through this teardrop night.
Transplanted :
I step my days as
stalking stealthy forests.
I walk concrete streets
in moccasioned heart.
I stand a moment on an
architectural patch of green
misted by boy/pitcher
pouring water...
my thirsty roots delve,
these - invisible threads -
to inner earth,
entwine new life,
draw deep
the breath of mother.
Then I go.
Progression :
Facade upon my face, I sit alone.
Sunshafts stab my thought of home.
Across my desk I lean to warmth,
watch this clock that does not move.
My fingers rustle papers,
as I yearn, and cling
to whishing wind in mountain pine,
those pinon scented hours.
I shall be free again...someday...
.
In explanation of 'To Reach Beyond'.
With a distant Ojibway Indian heritage, my poem reaches back to a part of history that held hardship, sorrow, and at times injustice. However, amid the progression of Time, societal change, and with rapidly increasing technology; with a personal responsibility of workmanship and success...a heart never forgets the heritage of home.
The engagement of our young minds in constant re-happenings of Nature, those of sorrow and death, some of grandiose beauty, those indelible touches on a heart, all effect life as we walk on unending personal journeys. That interaction of Nature and human mind, so prevalent in an Indian heritage for example, will remain a part of us...forever. On the basis of foundational childhood experiences, the adult molts again and again into the interesting and kinetic being that shall ever be, continually progressing, never ceasing to exist.
Perhaps we all long for some solace from the past. Only as we face our truths of life past and present, can we accept, learn, change, and appreciate treasures that may be ours alone.
A brief glimpse of an Oklahoma treasure.
Comments
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Juliet Stewart, thank you for a gracious visit. I am happy you came!
Simply beautiful, the way your thoughts convey and capture..., I'm there.
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Rob Lattin, thank you for reading and thinking about this poem, and more for your commenting also. Your Michigan is nearer to Ojibway memory than my current hot, dry country. I am a bit envious.
The poem takes serious thought and your explanation carries it further. thank you for writing and sharing something refreshing.
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BeyondMax, your perception shows that you have experience in the kind of progress shown here. Thanks for sharing your words!
Oh, wow. That was incredibly deep, thoughtful and striking... Love the photos, such a great work, love this hub to bits!
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Minnetonka Twin (identical!) thank you for your visit and enjoying the hub. :-)
Your beautiful poetry is a great reflection of you and your past. Your style of prose is soothing and flows effortlessly.
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What an insightful comment! Thank you, jtrader!
Sometimes those trips can give us some of the strength we need to complete the things we must do.
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PADDYBOY60, thank you, glad you enjoyed the visit.
Very nice.
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Love your name Deerwhisperer. Thank you for visiting, and glad you enjoyed the video. Going to check our your hub now.
Beautiful poem. It seems we have something in common, as we both have distant Indian ancestors that provoke us to write, only mine are Cerokee. For a little more about me, perhaps you should read "Diary of Hope Georgia." Great hub, I loved the sunset video, and I voted up and beautiful.
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Glad you visited and commented, Quill Again. Our Creator made a fantastic world for us to explore, but that is nothing compared to what can be inside our heart by His love there. (By the way what about your Kindle + books?)
Hi frogfish... voted up and awesome... your words spoke deeply into my spirit. After many years in the north here in Canada and spending a great deal of time around the Cree Natives I gained a great deal of knowledge of their belief's and harmony with nature. Creation begins with the Creator and it is a fine balance.. Thank you for sharing
Blessings
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PDXKaraokeGuy thank you for visiting and for your comment.
very good work. I enjoyed this thouroughly
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trecords0, thank you for sharing your thoughts and vision. It is to be greatly appreciated and complimented. It pleases me within to see and share your comment!
I don't think I have any direct American Indian in my DNA, but I do have a sense of an old Indian spirit inside of me. It gives me enjoyment and contentment when I meditate upon it, and I can relate. The collective ways of native aboriginals everywhere have always been an inspirational model for my actions in daily life, and I admit I feel a personal shame and sadness for what "the white man" stole, raped, and erased from those cultures. I lament the loss of the connectedness these civilizations possessed, yet I move forward through this digital world carrying their sensibilities.
Beautiful poem. Thanks for writing it.
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qlcoach, thank you for expressing your recognition of 'our freedom'! Hard won, appreciated, but successful! Glad you came and visited.
What if we are already free? Maybe all we need to do is vent the pain, connect with our inner Light, and claim our freedom from the mountaintops. There is much beauty here today. Sending you purple Light. Peace....Gary.
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tipoague thank you for your enjoyment of the natural beauty. I also love to watch the changing scenery of sunrise and sunset...they are never the same!
What a beautiful poem. I love the pictures you have posted. I love to watch the sun rise and set just to see the beautiful colors on display. Thank you for sharing this wonderful piece.
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Fiddleman, thank you for your kind comment. Everytime I see your avatar, I want to hear some music!
Great expression and some great writing.
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Vinaya and Peggy, thank you for your perception and enjoyment, and for your kind comments.
MsDora, I wrote this poem quite a few years ago and its expression has been repeatedly valuable to me. I have fought with picture placement here, but thank you for enjoying anyway.
Marcoujor, you are right...even through the perceived sadness there is peace, beauty, progression...and success. Thank you for your comment!
I feel an instant connect with your work. It is very soothing and peaceful. No one may take our heart unless we share it; thank you for sharing with us.
This is awesome and beautiful, mar.
Creative! Unusual subject to capture by photos. Good job!
Really enjoyed this especially the following lines...
"I walk concrete streets
in moccasioned heart."
What a beautiful nod to not only Indian culture but also to the nature that resides in most everyone's heart of hearts. Rated beautiful and up!
I loved you photo, I loved your poetry. Pictures and words are carefully chosen. Great work.
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WannaBWriter, thank you for your pleasant comment. Haven't we all had 'vacation thoughts' while supposedly deciphering all those papers?
The poem wording arrangement does not at all please me but that is all I could come up with using the pictures.
Thank you again for your visit.
Such vivid images! I especially identified with this one:
My fingers rustle papers,
as I yearn
and cling to whishing wind
in mountain pine,
those pinon scented hours.
Thanks for sharing. Your photos were well-chosen
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WD Curry 111, thank you for sharing your beautiful understanding. You are right: We have no choice in how we came...but DO in where we go, and how. Thank you for your welcome visit here.
Beautiful. I have a trace of Native American. Not sure what tribe. It wasn't cool to be a half-breed in S.W. Texas back in the day when my great grandfather married one. Still, I know this line. You said it eloquently.
"I walk concrete streets
in moccasined heart."
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christopheranton, thank you for visiting and your nice comment. The video is a recent sunset at a park I frequent close to home. One can barely hear the crickets, wind and some bird calls if your sound is turned up.
Inspirational words, lovely pictures, and a beautiful sunset, or sunrise. Thanks for sharing with us.
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lorenmurcia, thank you very much!
Eddie-Perkins, I am pleased you visited!
Mary615, thank you...I shall see your hub.
RedElf, thank you for visiting and enjoying.
Good wishes to all four of you early visitors, and may you
all renew your strength and hope in beautiful happenings!
You have some lovely photos to complement your lovely words.
Hi Frogy! This was great. I voted it UP. You must have been reading my mind, cause I just published a Hub about a man who was tired of the business world, and wanted to be free. Check it out. See you soon, I hope, Mary
Very interesting Frogy. Thanks for sharing. Vote up and interesting. ~ eddie
explanation very well said! nice poem, too...
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