Questions

What do we know of real Native Americans?

They’ve written little of their history.

We depend upon the words of the conquerors

to part the curtain of mystery.

Myths and fables and misrepresentations are

what we have as a result,

and all those western movies we watched

just might bear a little of the fault.

Geronimo is a familiar name, as is Quanah

Parker, Cochise, and Crazy Horse;

some of us have heard of Mangas Coloradas,

and many know of Chief Joseph, of course.

But tell me, what is the Trail of Tears, where

did it begin, and where did it go?

Was there really so much misery on that march?

Did that many tears actually flow?

Were the Seminoles really unconquered, and

from where did they come?

Were they the combined people of many tribes,

or were they always just one?

Why do I ask all these questions, why has my

curiosity become suddenly piqued?

Actually I’ve wondered ever since I discovered

‘Little Beaver’ was neither a Sioux nor a Creek.

He was really an Italian kid named Mickey,

and a favorite of my trusting youth,

when Red Ryder rode Saturday’s ranges,

and I took what I saw on the screen as the truth.

I knew little of Indian reservations, and less

about what happened there;

like most of my fellow Americans,

the truth is I didn’t really much care.

Maybe that’s why we readily accepted

a bogus ‘Indian’ weeping over the ecology;

and, after a brief spurt of interest, have

almost completely forgotten Wounded Knee.

A child is brutally beaten because someone,

a teacher, felt he didn’t belong,

and his parents only protested a little. Why

have we become so accepting of such wrongs?

So the world spins ‘round, we go our ways,

caught up in our own lives, but yet,

all is not completely forgotten for some;

that ancient trail continues to be wet.

© Thurman P. Woodfork 10/3/2007