Grandmother's Land

By the White Lake in Grandmother’s Land, lived about eight clans

In the midst of the tribes and their wives and children, stood a very brave man

His look disturbed as he came into the Chief’s tent for the third time, drenched, convinced that Little Waters exists

“For the third time, he was with us during the vision ceremony, we haven’t seen him since”

Agitated, he starts punching his own hand with his fist

The Chief said, “Tall Bear, you’re losing your wits, you must get a grip

The Ant People want your attention, and you must resist

There was no Little Waters with us at the fire pit”

“But Chief, he did exist, I’m not sick, he’s the one we should have peace pipe with

He spoke wonderful and righteous, disciplined enlightenment

Do you remember during the ceremony?

We took the trumpet plant to see in advance, our visions did enhance

And you warned us of the ants before we slipped into a trance

Little Waters and you over there, you put an [?] in his hand

I know because during the ceremony, I glanced

You said you felt the power of the yak and the elk

Little Waters played the drums to bring back your health”

The Chief said, “Please Tall Bear, relax yourself

Maybe we should bring in some tribeswomen and ask them for help”

So as the night stormed, Tall Bear went on and on on how they spoke on upper planes and other life forms

And how Little Waters captured the bison, revisit their boyhood

Joys of the white owl and the oak woods

The spirit journey to the snow wolves

Then the horse dance, sing a rain song

How he came and gone, this was no good

Chief said, “Tall Bear, I knew and spoke to you for many years

I wish your grandfather was still here

But this case is so rare

People in memories just don’t disappear

I have no idea, but please have a seat right here

Maybe you’re going crazy

Have you had sleep lately?“

Then he called for the tribes and the Medicine Ladies

They arrived with great urgency

“What’s the emergency?”

Chief said, “Tall Bear needs your care”

They all looked confused

They all asked, “Who?”

Chief said, “Ask him yourself”

They looked around the room, and said, “Chief, who are you talking to?”

The Chief said, “Tall Bear

He’s sitting right there”

They asked, “Where? There’s no one else here except us and you”

The Chief’s eyes stunned with terror and fear, his face just flared

Moments go by as they all just stare

Hours later the children walk in the teepee from behind their backs then look around the circle then ask, “What are you all staring at?”

The Spider Lady turned and said, “The Chief is very sick and hallucinating”

The children said, “What Chief?

From outside, you all sound like you all were talking to the ancient"

For years, it was only us near the tree called Wounded Knee

Above the hills where the Sioux and the big waters run free

By the White Lake, the night draped in silence over undiscovered landscapes

Day break, pine martins drank from the many puddles the rain makes

Bushes of trumpet flowers, wild grapes, marsh showers and grass lakes

As the sun bakes their empty space near White Lake near Wounded Knee, the birds fly from the tree ‘cause every now and then, that place shakes

The ground trembles just in that spot

On the right night, you can feel a mild earthquake