I.
He was in the wilderness
a place where no man strays
          he had nothing to accomplish
alone there on the fray

Standing oaks reaching tall
          with green crowns bearing life
beams of sunlight piercing stillness
          red cardinal and his wife

Creepy crawlers in the damp
          black and moist their stay
leaves shed carpet years far gone
          dry twigs upon it lay

Walking, watching, listening
          snake silent moving still
squirrel grey lounging overhead
          sadness here is nil

Golden finch laughing chatter
          dance in full costume
twisted vines, honeysuckle
          shares her bright perfume

                       II.
Breathe in deeply, rest awhile
          Virginian countrymen
dreams of days long time past
          days of the Powhatan

Before the European man
          washed their tribe in pain
before the Spanish smallpox
          before so many slain

They danced the dream of brotherhood
          Siouan, Tutelo
adopted by Cayuga
          into the northern snow

Monacan nation, native land
          wind, water, fire, earth
renape spirit guiding silence
          offering rebirth