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Dennis Cardiff

~ Poems & Prose

Dennis Cardiff

Tag Archives: First Nations

Steps of Stone

23 Wednesday Dec 2015

Posted by DennisCardiff in Poetry

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

compassion, destiny, eternal, First Nations, lifetimes, love, mystery, personal, spiritual, unconditional love

 

“We planted you, we nurtured you, we protected you
until you became a mighty tree that spread through our
hunting grounds. With its branches you now lash us.”
– Mississauga Chief

IMG_4656

Steps used by the Rideau Lakes Mississauga
Band of the Ojibwe or Anishinaabe Nation , for
traditional Sun Dance and other ceremonies.

…

I sit on ancient steps of stone
by myself, but not alone.
The presence of ten thousand souls
imbues me with their joys and goals.

The steps lead to a sacred place;
for Mississauga prayers and grace.
They danced to celebrate the sun
before the white man and the gun.

I seek what they sought; love and peace ~
for wars around the world to cease.
To live a life of nature’s plan
in harmony with fellow man.

In harmony with living things
and everything that nature brings.
I sit on ancient steps of stone
with souls to guide me on my own.

 
 

 

Buy my book for $0.99 — proceeds feed the homeless:
Gotta Find a Home; Conversations with Street People
http://buff.ly/1wyjiKS

 

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Betrayal

29 Sunday Nov 2015

Posted by DennisCardiff in Poetry

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Buddhism, Christianity, despair, desperation, emotion, empathy, First Nations, homeless, loving kindness, psychology, Sociology

 

images-3

 

I look into your eyes,
grey with tears and sorrow
from the Arctic Ocean.

I feel your hurt deep inside,
hear your thunder,
see your rain.

With your fist at your chest
you open your heart,
tell me of hardship,
betrayal and pain.

I listen
with my heart
as one who has been there.

With my arm around your shoulder,
as a brother,
I urge you, to act with patience
and with love —
to be LOVE.

.

Note: Alphonse took his life, by hanging, 21 October 2015.

Buy my book for $0.99 — proceeds feed the homeless:
Gotta Find a Home; Conversations with Street People
http://buff.ly/1wyjiKS

 

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Lost Brave

24 Tuesday Nov 2015

Posted by DennisCardiff in Poetry

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

aboriginal, alcoholism, compassion, emotion, empathy, First Nations, kindness, longing, native, spiritual, unconditional love

 

images

 

a lost brave
leans against a building
(tho he is unwelcome)
beside a busy walk.
everything he owns
fills a pack
upon his back

he is far
from his fishing boat,
an ocean teeming with fish,
from the majestic forest,
from his children,
his clan

his eyes reveal
a story of hurt and pain –
the uncertainty of the city.
a sidewalk for a bed,
charity of strangers
his only grace

a challenge
every day –
a new beginning.
beyond the fire
that tames his demons
the only plan that matters
is to survive

far from home
he can scarce remember.
a lost brave, fighting back tears,
pride in the knowledge
of his ancestry,
his place –
his blood

 
 

Buy my book,
Gotta Find a Home: Conversations with Street People,
for $0.99. Proceeds feed the homeless.

http://buff.ly/1wyjiKS

 

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Steps of Stone

30 Tuesday Apr 2013

Posted by DennisCardiff in Poetry

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

compassion, death, destiny, emotion, empathy, empowerment, eternal, First Nations, forever, free, lifetimes, Mississauga Band, mystery, native, nature, personal, philosophy, spirits, unconditional love, world

“We planted you, we nurtured you, we protected you
until you became a mighty tree that spread through our
hunting grounds. With its branches you now lash us.”
– Mississauga Chief

IMG_4656

Steps used by the Rideau Lakes Mississauga
Band of the Ojibwe or Anishinaabe Nation , for
traditional Sun Dance and other ceremonies.

…

I sit on ancient steps of stone
by myself, but not alone.
The presence of ten thousand souls
imbues me with their joys and goals.

The steps lead to a sacred place;
for Mississauga prayers and grace.
They danced to celebrate the sun
before the white man and the gun.

I seek what they sought; love and peace ~
for wars around the world to cease.
To live a life of nature’s plan
in harmony with fellow man.

In harmony with living things
and everything that nature brings.
I sit on ancient steps of stone
with souls to guide me on my own.

 

 

 

Share this:

  • Print
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pocket
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Like this:

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