RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: INDIAN HISTORY
Washita River
Black Kettle remembers the day
The blue coats came to Sand Creek
He remembers holding the white flag
Of peace that the government said
Would protect his tribe
He remembers the thunder of hooves
The onslaught of gunfire
The plunging of bayonets and knives
He remembers trails of blood that ran
From the camp to the creek
He remembers the cry of women and children
He remembers Medicine Woman Later
By his side as they rushed to cover
He remembers surviving to witness
The scene of bloody carnage
Through the reeds by the creek
He remembers the soldiers
Cutting body parts from his people
To become trophies and curiosities
He survives to tell the story
The blue coats said it was a mistake
It could not happen again
The survivors moved to Indian Territory
And settled by the Washita River
The blue coats gave him a white flag
That he buried in remembrance
Of those he buried as Sand Creek
They swore it would not happen again
It is daybreak under clear skies
When he hears the thunder of horses
With their pounding iron hooves
A sound he has heard before
He looks to Medicine Woman Later
And knows that she knows
Together they sing their death songs
And take comfort in knowing
They will not witness the scene again
Their blood marks a trail to Washita River
Where they leave behind a curse
The white eyes will never forget
What their blue coats did this day
(The Washita River Massacre:
November 27, 1868)
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