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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
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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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JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 129 comments.

dojorockergirl SILVER said...
on Aug. 3 2010 at 2:04 pm
dojorockergirl SILVER, Sacramento, California
7 articles 0 photos 4 comments

Favorite Quote:
1. "Cowards die a thousands times before their death, but the Valiant taste death all but once."
2. "Fairytales don't tell children dragons exist, Children already know dragons exist. Fairytales tell children that dragons can be killed."
3. "

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this is amazing! i love it!
KourtneyBriann BRONZE said...
on Aug. 3 2010 at 11:42 am
KourtneyBriann BRONZE, Niles, Michigan
1 article 0 photos 90 comments
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This is reallt cool and great. Everyone plzzzzzz commment and rate my fiction articles, it means a lot to me.
hi my name is earl said...
on Aug. 3 2010 at 8:09 am
this poem is kool
matt7 BRONZE said...
on Jul. 12 2010 at 5:20 pm
matt7 BRONZE, Charleston, Other
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Favorite Quote:
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NICE IMAGERY! Next time you write, use meter, it makes a lot of difference. :)

btw is there any chance you would know how to contact the editors? Cause i just want to know if Christian poetry could be published in the teenink magazine.

just-a-joy GOLD said...
on Jul. 12 2010 at 11:44 am
just-a-joy GOLD, Indianapolis, Indiana
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Favorite Quote:
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this is beautiful keep it up
secretdancer22 GOLD said...
on Jul. 12 2010 at 2:59 am
secretdancer22 GOLD, Webster Groves, Missouri
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This  peice is truly amazing keep it up and check out my work!
Kasumi BRONZE said...
on Jun. 20 2010 at 9:30 pm
Kasumi BRONZE, Mequon, Wisconsin
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I am 8% native american (sioux) XP

I really like this poem! Great job!

tweety1ofakind BRONZE said...
on Jun. 20 2010 at 7:24 pm
tweety1ofakind BRONZE, Magnolia, Mississippi
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very powerful ..i love it !!
MCRlover2011 BRONZE said...
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Honestly i don't rememeber writing that or reading this poem, and it's just eh, not the best poem i read if i offened you i'm sorry it's just that's how i feel once again sorry
RebeccaIsLove BRONZE said...
on Jun. 20 2010 at 1:56 pm
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this is so beautiful.
yellowflower SILVER said...
on Jun. 20 2010 at 12:57 pm
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wow its really good
BlueFoot GOLD said...
on Jun. 20 2010 at 12:29 pm
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........LOL
Eternally17 SILVER said...
on Jun. 20 2010 at 8:59 am
Eternally17 SILVER, Dubai, Other
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Beautifully written (:
janette93 BRONZE said...
on May. 29 2010 at 6:36 pm
janette93 BRONZE, Bell Canyon, California
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Favorite Quote:
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i like this

i posted a couple poems

check it out :D

Eilatan GOLD said...
on May. 29 2010 at 5:25 pm
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this is wonderful. I love the ending.
isela BRONZE said...
on May. 29 2010 at 1:26 am
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that was an awsome descriptive poem i like it alot
Dragonslayer5000 GOLD said...
on May. 7 2010 at 5:11 pm
Dragonslayer5000 GOLD, Boise, Idaho
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Great descriptive language! *claps*
Wanttodelete said...
on May. 7 2010 at 4:57 pm
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*gasp* This is.. beautiful..
treegirl93 BRONZE said...
on May. 7 2010 at 2:05 pm
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I think it's great that you are keeping that dark past alive. Not many people remember or want to remember what we did to the Native Americans. They just defended their land and their ways of life from an intruder- a thief. Your poem tugged at my heart strings.
Frog-Prince PLATINUM said...
on May. 7 2010 at 1:11 am
Frog-Prince PLATINUM, Lakeside, California
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great job with this poem please check out some of my stuff =)