by
Longtrail
| Many seasons I have waited Since my years of youth and weakness I am strong and I am cunning I am ready for you now. Many summers have watched you From your years of youth and weakness Now you too are strong and cunning I am ready for you now. Many mornings I have seen you Beneath the clouds of dawns pink shadows Ride the sunlight over the prairies Ride the thermals to the mountains. Often I have heard you Heard you in my waking hours Heard you in my dreaming darkness Calling, looking at me from on high. You so strong that others fear you Wise and cunning none have tricked you In my manhood I now seek you I alone will soon deceive you. "Woman it is time to move us Time to leave this shaded valley Towards the open we must travel To the high place we shall go." Bring the skin of dead coyote And the rabbit I have taken Do not forget my stone for digging Bring my paint for war and fighting. Camp is set and food is cooking The night is clear and stars are shinning Like many nights since my childhood I see your likeness in stars . As the sun’s soft glow fades westward I rise and venture outward, searching Looking for the place to dig down Where you will come to me unknowing. I now stand where we will battle On this spot I stand here praying This is where my dream will waken Now the time draws near to take you. Here in the dark of night I labor With stone I dig a hole by moonlight In hides I carry dirt in secret Scattering it under distant bushes. Through the night I dig and carry Gather sticks from pine and juniper Gather sage and grasses yellow To put above me and below me. This hole I’ve dug will more than hold me Space above and space below me Room to sit , and then lay down in A place to wait for many hours I weave the sticks across above me Close together for holding grasses Leaving an opening in the one end When all is ready, through it I pass. Upon the sticks, the dead coyote Stands as if to eat a rabbit Meat lay on the sticks before him Tethered with a thong of leather. Attached to me so I can hold it With strength and swiftness I will pull you Into the pit where you will see me Be for the first time, eye to eye. No more will you circle high above me Laughing at my earthbound body Swooping down in teasing motions Then up, knowing well I can not follow. Down I crawl into the cool earth Only stars above that see me On the sage wrapped in my blanket For the dawn of day I wait. As the sun paints hues on mountains I paint my face with hues of fighting Red for victory, white for pureness Green for dreams that soon are filled. As I gaze upward through the weaving Praying for your quick arrival Silently singing songs of bravery I hear you calling, you are now hunting. With shrill arrival, circling downward Screams to send the small game running From bush to hole their life in danger Diving, reaching, talons closing. Looking through the sticks above me Below the clouds I see your shadow Soaring, rising, coming nearer The feasting coyote you have seen. No more do you want the sage hen Not the mouse nor mole to feast on But the meat that lays above me Tethered to me here in waiting. My heart is pounding, muscles tensing Sweat drips from my arms and forehead Closer to me you are diving Prayers and song pour from my lips. Your landing shakes the grass down on me I hear you bid the coyote leave With wings the length of my body You darken the sun with shadows moving Ripping hide and fur is flying No fear of coyote is in you With talons sharp you take the wild dog He lays defenseless on the ground. Upon the bloody meat your standing Talons tight around it clutching Wings up then down to lift you But I have you and hold you tightly. Fear and panic serge through you Instinct to flee controls your being Through the sticks I, tethered to you Pull you down, we are finally eye to eye. Eyes of brown and eyes of yellow For the first time close together You fight to rise from our confinement Blood streaks warmly down my chest. You try to kill who has deceived you Free yourself from captive bondage Kill the strong one who now holds you Return to soar amongst the stars. With hair and feathers flying Whirling clouds of war’s debris With my hands I win the battle I am strong and I am cunning My dream of youth has happened this day The mightiest of birds I have taken My strength and cunning did deceive you Your mighty spirit now is mine. |
Last Revised 05/25/05