"waya" poems
Granny gave me moccasins
To run and play in.
She got them from the pow-wow.
They made me swift
And light on my feet.
She told me
“Remember who you are”
Granny gave me a dream catcher
For my good dreams to fly through
And the bad ones to get caught in.
She got it at the pow-wow.
It made my nightmares go away
And gave me dreams about my ancestors.
She told me
“Remember who you are”
Granny gave me a totem pole
So that I would know our seven clans.
She got it from her father.
The Ani-gatagewi keepers of our land
Ani-gilahi and Ani-waya the peace and war chiefs
The Ani-kawi and Ani-tsiskwa earthly and spirited messengers
Ani-wodi and Ani-sahoni the creators of medicine
She told me
“Remember who you are”
Granny gave me a book
With the words of my people
And their stories.
She got it from the pow-wow.
I learned about our earth mother
And how we grew from her *****
She told me
“Remember who you are”
Granny gave me a day
To wear my moccasins.
She took me to the pow-wow.
I saw the people from my stories
And dreams.
My people and clans.
She told me
“You are ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ (Cherokee)”
*The seven clans of the Cherokee tribe: Ani-gatagewi translates to Wild Potato Clan (keepers of our land), Ani-gilahi are the Long Hair Clan (peace chiefs), Ani-kawi is the Deer Clan (earthly messengers), Ani-sahoni or Blue Paint Clan (medicine for children), Ani-tsiskwa or Bird Clan (spirited messengers), Ani-waya is the Wolf Clan (war chief) , Ani-wodi Red Paint Clan (medicine).
May 7, 2013
May 7, 2013 at 10:19 AM UTC
The cool breeze awakes me and there I am in the hammock looking out at the sea with you in my arms next to me smiling but I blink and your gone replaced by this gun when only moments before you were smiling at me the cold steel stares it's barrel at me like a lover afraid I blink and your face is in front of mine smiling sweetly and divine wake up I hear the words but I can't respond or move waya wake up we have stuff to do today the sun behind you shining past into my eyes I squint slowly about time sleepy head I feel the smile on my face and I blink filled with joy to only see the sun coming through my window and you nowhere near me
Jun 11, 2015
Jun 11, 2015 at 2:15 AM UTC
Like a brother I will stand by you forever
and we will walk the red path together
like a brother of my own blood
I will love you and watch over you
from your eye's I will wipe your tears
and ease your aching heart from pain
like a brother I will protect you from your fears
when you feel alone in the night
like a brother I will help you see it through
and be the bringer of light
like a brother beside you I will always remain
Spiritwind ©2013
Apr 24, 2016
Apr 24, 2016 at 11:27 AM UTC