After the Ghost Dance

Wovoka brought with him
a hope

it failed

purple clouds
form over the wintry landscape

the blood will completely wash away
from the plains

seek no more the hope,
my brothers and sisters,
for it is gone

the war was long,
the battles many,
the deaths countless,
but we cannot fight the wasichu
any longer

we have died
but we yet shall live

the Great Mystery will not
let us perish

yes, my brothers and sisters,
we will live

this winter
will still be followed
by another warm spring

we will live


DB/c1992, 2014