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After Wounded Knee MAG

March 1, 2009
By Elise Lockwood BRONZE, Carmel, Indiana
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Elise Lockwood BRONZE, Carmel, Indiana
1 article 0 photos 0 comments
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You still wear that old war paint
(angry lines slashed above your eyes)
I can feel you waiting for the battle to come
(spikes of red staining your cheeks)
There are no pawing horses now
No painted hands on their haunches
(the number of warrior souls you stole)
No noonday sun beating on bare backs
No smell of sweat and leather and bravery
Puncturing the familiar woodsmoke
(breastplates of porcupine quills, feathers in hair)
No ululations of war, yelling at fear
No singing, no dancing, no tribes, no homes
(scars left from the struggle free from the sun)
Just a drum drum drum beat
(a piece of flesh left for the Great Spirit)
Piercing through dreams.

© Olivia E., Alto, MI

The author's comments:
This was inspired by the Battle at Wounded Knee in 1890, a massacre of the Sioux.
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This article has 129 comments.

writerwriting GOLD said...
on Jan. 26 2011 at 4:14 pm
writerwriting GOLD, Houston, Texas
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I liked this; you have really good imagery:)
If you have some time, I would love you to check out some of my work on this site.
Jakethesnake BRONZE said...
on Jan. 26 2011 at 1:50 pm
Jakethesnake BRONZE, Hernando, Mississippi
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Favorite Quote:
"Read, Read... Read everything, then write."-William Faulkner

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This is great! Although I do not know why they called it a ''battle." It was a massacre of unarmed women and children, old and young. We simply hated the Native Americans that much.
asofnow GOLD said...
on Dec. 13 2010 at 8:13 pm
asofnow GOLD, Troy, Michigan
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this is really good 

If u hav time can u chk out my wrk

Savanne BRONZE said...
on Nov. 25 2010 at 2:43 pm
Savanne BRONZE, Colfax, California
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I loved it! the imagary was very good
MandaPerkins GOLD said...
on Nov. 21 2010 at 5:02 pm
MandaPerkins GOLD, Layton, Utah
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I like the imagery! I find the style of this quite unique. In other words, I love it. :)
sleepinginthegarden BRONZE said...
on Nov. 21 2010 at 9:51 am
sleepinginthegarden BRONZE, Kingston, Massachusetts
2 articles 0 photos 66 comments
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r u kidding me teenagemutantme its sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooolooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good 
NaTivE_BeAutiE GOLD said...
on Oct. 30 2010 at 9:41 pm
NaTivE_BeAutiE GOLD, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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oops! wow it posted twice
NaTivE_BeAutiE GOLD said...
on Oct. 30 2010 at 9:40 pm
NaTivE_BeAutiE GOLD, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Favorite Quote:
~a woman looked at me and said, "You know, you really don't look Indian."So I smiled at her and responded: "Well you don't look stupid, but appearances can be awfully deceiving."~

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Nice piece, you're a very talented writer. The imagery was unique and easy to follow. Yet the style and   flow were so complex! Don't let those jealous folks comments pull you down, ;) 

Also, thank you for sharing the harsh yet true time of violation and slaughter of so many innocent men, and mostly women and children.

Many people still think Indian and think: Halloween costume or fictional movie character. But we're still here, still strong, still proud.

I hope one day we'll be more clear and real to people who unfortunately, right now are too blind to see past a stereotype. 

Anyways, haha as I said before, you got talent! Keep writing!!

NaTivE_BeAutiE GOLD said...
on Oct. 30 2010 at 8:56 pm
NaTivE_BeAutiE GOLD, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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~a woman looked at me and said, "You know, you really don't look Indian."So I smiled at her and responded: "Well you don't look stupid, but appearances can be awfully deceiving."~

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Tell it like it is, NativeWriter :)

 

BrokenInnocence said...
on Oct. 30 2010 at 7:47 pm
It's lovely. I love how you mad it deep and part of the culture of that time with so little words, yet you gave it so much meaning.
marioc GOLD said...
on Oct. 30 2010 at 12:40 pm
marioc GOLD, Horton, Kansas
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dont have one.

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dude that was really good man, really enjoyed it.
iflyawesome BRONZE said...
on Oct. 8 2010 at 10:49 pm
iflyawesome BRONZE, Houston, Texas
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Willy Wonka: This little piece of gum is a three course dinner.
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Willy Wonka: No, roast beef. But I haven't got it quite right yet.

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no offense or anything, but why is this so amazing??

i know the same could be said for my work (seeing as it took me all of 5minutes to write it) but this doesnt amaze me as much as it does others... ?

teenagemutantme BRONZE said...
on Oct. 8 2010 at 6:36 pm
teenagemutantme BRONZE, Ilwaco, Washington
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It's okay:)
IamtheshyStargirl PLATINUM said...
on Oct. 8 2010 at 5:03 pm
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Chilling, heartbreaking, beautiful!!!!!! Thank you sosososososossoso much for writing and posting this!

Congratulations on getting it published :D

PieceOfMyHeart said...
on Oct. 8 2010 at 1:46 pm
One word: Powerful
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on Sep. 16 2010 at 6:13 pm
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It's beautiful , yet powerful. It's not enourmous, yet meaningful. This poem is apart of history, and apart of history means that something is forever! . Good Job =] !
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on Sep. 8 2010 at 1:12 pm
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If I were to stand on that battlefield I would have known you wrote it write. Amazing.
Lucy(: GOLD said...
on Aug. 25 2010 at 12:13 pm
Lucy(: GOLD, Cambridge, Massachusetts
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so moving and eye-catching

each word is like a metphore but it makes so much sense

unbelieveable (:

check out my work toooo

Zzzie SILVER said...
on Aug. 3 2010 at 7:40 pm
Zzzie SILVER, North Canton, Ohio
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Very, very good. I love the last line!
guitargirl BRONZE said...
on Aug. 3 2010 at 2:59 pm
guitargirl BRONZE, Boise, Idaho
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wow!