The Shots of Red Lake

Winters hand still covers ground

cooling the air

before the blush

of springs warm lips

kisses our faces again

And sadly,

how the teeth in man's choices

tear at us to remember

who each one of is

and to the lessons

our Elders's Ancestors

taught with their blood

in the hope of us making

better choices than they

It is time to remember

brothers and sisters

The Four Directions

The all-encompassing Spirit

that too many try to ignore

but in doing so only takes us

where the sun will no longer warm us

The Voices in the wind

do not sing today

Wailing in pains stead

in this season of rebirth

for the torn and wasted dead

the sad and mournful ache

of final goodbyes

Be not wasted our fallen in deed

If we learn the good lessons

They want us to heed

Smile they will

From around the fire ring

Ridding their souls

Of deaths cruel chill

Singing the way our Ancestors sing

One day soon

the reed will grow long and green

tickling the sky playfully

As it always has been

taking its place in the circle

but for many of us it will

never look the same

a mixed blessing

of reality and pause

to contemplate

The Shots of Red Lake