Morning Star

[repman]

This is a poem I have begun which deals with a well known historic event and tells the story of that event through the viewpoint of two contrasting characters. It is about half way done and in extreme rough draft form but I really am enjoying writing it and I reckoned, hell, might as well post what I've got so far! (Bonus points if you can guess the historic event and any of the real historical figures it references!!)



We were so eager to leave Fort Lincoln,
Riding steadily through hills and valleys,
Of course, I can’t truly ride my horse,
Being in the service just these long weeks,
Not yet many months, dreaming still of a
Far-off place called home...

...Home is near-by,
Within these black hills I feel ancestors’
Restless sprits unhurriedly passing,
A good woman’s love, my children playing,
This one not so young and yet not so old,
A lazy river where our ponies prance.

Our riding is swift, hard thighs ache and burn,
Onward, we sweat all day and freeze all night,
Suffering, unstoppable, differing,
My comrades know I’m from a foreign land,
But, so is our Captain, dark and aloof,
And this gives me strength...

... Strength, I will show them,
Though I am tense and soon sore from the ride,
My long hair a blending of black and grey,
The hunt is still within me, burning hot,
I breathe deeply the feeling of the sun,
Joining the spirit of my grandfathers.

Halt, now, to water horses, to make camp,
Bushy men weaving stories, singing songs,
Tales of regimental lore, omitting,
Fiercely, whimpers of gore; Can’t just be me,
Who doesn’t want to die, under this strange,
Aloof, and foreign sky...

... Sky, familiar,
Luminously guiding my peoples’ steps,
Our moonlit faces, present with the past,
Chanting our fathers’ stories, revealing all,
Ancestors rising in the languid smoke,
Way of life reduced to a single toke.

[tangerinepie]

This was beautifully done. I think this might refer to the Black Hills expedition led By Custer, I believe a few years before The Black Hills War. I am not certain which Lakota or Sioux first nation's leaders were relevant in trying to save their lands, I think Chief Sitting Bull was one..Great story telling here, wording and emotion powerful..Tangie..

[Jerryk]

Some years ago I wrote a poem about Custer and a distant relative of mine whose name is chiseled into stone. Private Meier. Like many Irish and German immigrants, he joined the army and was killed at the Little Big Horn. I'd say, "Custer got what he had coming. If the Lakotas failed to take his scalp it was because he was balding. Nice write; much liked. Thanks for posting. JerryK

[jsol]

the new recruit mentioning that they hail "from a foreign land," and also the line "but, so is our captain, dark and aloof," peaked my curiosity and i had to see if i could figure this little riddle out. i came to no conclusions but my best guess is that you are referring to them being "buffalo soldiers" which was the name given to the then newly emancipated peoples of african descent that were recruited into the u.s. military. i was able to find a few details that told of a 9th and 10th cavalry, formed mostly in the new orleans area from groups of freed slaves. i didn't see any direct mentioning of them being deployed to fort lincoln but there was some vague information about them being present at both the battles of little big horn and wounded knee. most of the info i saw spoke of their exploits in texas, new mexico, kansas and cuba. a few prominent members were named but none that seemed to fit in with what your poem. which is very good and which i enjoyed and found highly interesting.

[repman]

You're onto something but the captain is a historical figure and the regiment is the 7th cavalry! "Dark and aloof" was a description which is paraphrased from his civil war comrades....

Btw, this man is photographed with union general john Buford....