"My Unabashed Ramblings"
It would be great to hear from you. Take a minute or two and tell me what you think. Your Comments, Input, and Opinions will be greatly appreciated. - Bob
It would be great to hear from you. Take a minute or two and tell me what you think. Your Comments, Input, and Opinions will be greatly appreciated. - Bob
Tears of the Cherokee
A Short Story By Robert Hilton
“My hills and valleys are bright, green, and lush. I have lived here since the beginning of time. Mother earth has been generous and shared her bounty. My spirit finds nourishment in this place. As the moon rises and sets my life is good and I have no imagining beyond this perfect place.”
The mist hangs low as the sun breaks through the trees. The sun light shows slight in dappled pools among the leaves at my feet. My heart begins to lift out of the gloom of night. I hear the creatures of the forest awakening in anticipation of the coming day. My life is full of many pleasures and each new day makes my spirit sore. This is a good place.
I am a young boy in these days, strong with many moons to pass before I know what it is to be Cherokee, many moons to pass before I have reached the understanding. Grandfather speaks to me with many remembrances of days passed and secret places. He told me that soon I would find my secret place and when I did it would speak to my spirit. It would be a place of cool in the summer and warmth in the winter, a place that will protect me. He would say “This place will belong only to your spirit and you will know of this in your heart.”
In recent days there have been many talks of the white man. Talks that I am told are of much importance. It is told to me that the white man would like to make a paper treaty with the Cherokee. The people have no knowledge of the many symbols of the white mans tongue. The people have no understandings of this thing and have great fear. Many ask, “What does the Cherokee need of this thing?”
The people knew of Grandfather’s great wisdom and spoke with him of the white mans paper. Grandfather could not see the spirit in these symbols. In the wisps of his dream time he has seen that the people will suffer greatly by the hands of the white man. Knowing this truth Grandfather speaks to the people of the things that will come to pass. The people are frightened to know of Grandfather’s vision and want no more of the white mans paper treaty.
I knew of Grandfathers visions but understood little of what was in store for the people. As time passed the talk of the white man’s paper had no meaning for the people. The white man made the paper treaty with the Cherokee and my Grandfather spoke many times of the great suffering that the people will endure at the hands of the white man.
As the summer disappeared and the days began to darken and loose the warmth of the sun Grandfather knew that this perfect place would soon be torn from the hearts of the people. He foresees a journey of great sadness that many of the people will not complete and that he himself will not see. He tells of a few of the people that hide in their secret places and become the forgotten spirits in the eyes of the white man. They will be torn away form this perfect place but never leave it and this perfect place would never be for the people again.
As Grandfather prepared for his own journey he told me of the days coming that sees the white man gather the people in a deep long valley. He told me that this valley has a cold that chills and hardens the white mans heart to the people. He told me that I should go to my secret place and hide there. He would tell me, “Become a spirit to the white mans eyes. This will allow you to stay in this perfect place that will never again be for the people.”
to be continued..........
“My hills and valleys are bright, green, and lush. I have lived here since the beginning of time. Mother earth has been generous and shared her bounty. My spirit finds nourishment in this place. As the moon rises and sets my life is good and I have no imagining beyond this perfect place.”
The mist hangs low as the sun breaks through the trees. The sun light shows slight in dappled pools among the leaves at my feet. My heart begins to lift out of the gloom of night. I hear the creatures of the forest awakening in anticipation of the coming day. My life is full of many pleasures and each new day makes my spirit sore. This is a good place.
I am a young boy in these days, strong with many moons to pass before I know what it is to be Cherokee, many moons to pass before I have reached the understanding. Grandfather speaks to me with many remembrances of days passed and secret places. He told me that soon I would find my secret place and when I did it would speak to my spirit. It would be a place of cool in the summer and warmth in the winter, a place that will protect me. He would say “This place will belong only to your spirit and you will know of this in your heart.”
In recent days there have been many talks of the white man. Talks that I am told are of much importance. It is told to me that the white man would like to make a paper treaty with the Cherokee. The people have no knowledge of the many symbols of the white mans tongue. The people have no understandings of this thing and have great fear. Many ask, “What does the Cherokee need of this thing?”
The people knew of Grandfather’s great wisdom and spoke with him of the white mans paper. Grandfather could not see the spirit in these symbols. In the wisps of his dream time he has seen that the people will suffer greatly by the hands of the white man. Knowing this truth Grandfather speaks to the people of the things that will come to pass. The people are frightened to know of Grandfather’s vision and want no more of the white mans paper treaty.
I knew of Grandfathers visions but understood little of what was in store for the people. As time passed the talk of the white man’s paper had no meaning for the people. The white man made the paper treaty with the Cherokee and my Grandfather spoke many times of the great suffering that the people will endure at the hands of the white man.
As the summer disappeared and the days began to darken and loose the warmth of the sun Grandfather knew that this perfect place would soon be torn from the hearts of the people. He foresees a journey of great sadness that many of the people will not complete and that he himself will not see. He tells of a few of the people that hide in their secret places and become the forgotten spirits in the eyes of the white man. They will be torn away form this perfect place but never leave it and this perfect place would never be for the people again.
As Grandfather prepared for his own journey he told me of the days coming that sees the white man gather the people in a deep long valley. He told me that this valley has a cold that chills and hardens the white mans heart to the people. He told me that I should go to my secret place and hide there. He would tell me, “Become a spirit to the white mans eyes. This will allow you to stay in this perfect place that will never again be for the people.”
to be continued..........
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Comments
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I am enjoying your blogs, Bob..There is a thread about the sacred circle..I go there often to renew my spirit with friends from all faiths and a very special Cherokee shaman...Posted 01-19-2009 at 09:47 PM by Miss Blue
