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| Mary Lee posted yet another amazing video. I can't get it to load here so go there and take a look. |
Feel
like I should say just a little about where this poem came from. Think it’s
really kind of a found poem. After I saw Mary Lee’s post yesterday morning, and
read her fabulous poem (Really want to know how she says SOOO MUCH in so few
words), I went to Wikipedia to read about Ghost Dances. That article connected
me to an article about the Wokova, the Medicine Man who introduced the Ghost
Dance to his people.
The
article was pretty long. Sometimes when I want to read a Wikipedia article, I
will copy it and paste it into a Word document. That’s what I did with this
one, and then I just started cutting out words I didn’t want. At the same time,
I went and watched Laura Purdie Salas’ video. She’s talking about a new
technique every day. Yesterday was repeating lines. I decided to try to work that into my poem as well.
I
had a super full day yesterday, and didn’t get back to the poem until after ten
last night. I have committed to write a poem a day for the month (which may
kill me) and I really want to see if I can pull it off. Finished this one at
11:45.
“Ghost
Dance”
And
God said to
Wovoka
you
must tell your people
work
hard,
love
each other,
live
in peace
with your white brother.
with your white brother.
And
God gave Wovoka
the
Ghost Dance
dance
dance dance
dance
for peace
dance
for love
dance
for unity
dance
dance dance
But
the white brother
Does not know this dance
Of
peace and love and unity
White brother confines
Wovoka’s
people
to
land
too hot and dry to farm
sends Wovoka's children
away to learn
white brother's rules
Ache
in the belly deep
Ache
in the heart still deeper.
dance
dance dance
dance
for peace
dance
for love
dance
for unity
dance
dance dance
Wovoka’s
people dance.
Whiteman
says stop.
Wovoka’s
people dance.
White man is afraid
And
there is a massacre.
The
chief- Sitting Bull.
153
of Wovoka’s people
most
women and children
all
killed.
And
Wovoka’s people
do not dance
any more.
4 comments:
Wow.
I just got to this, Carol. I did some research too. I've often heard of the ghost dance, but didn't understand its import. I like how you wove the story in with the video, & you were personal with the details.
Wow, Carol...this one seared right to my soul...I love it! Amazing!
Shannon
The Other Side of the Equation
Moving. Loved this repetitive stanza:
dance dance dance
dance for peace
dance for love
dance for unity
dance dance dance
You continue to make me stop and ponder.
Cathy
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