My recent trip took me into Tennessee,
For awhile, I followed their trail of tears;
Although it occurred quite a long time ago,
Their immense sadness, can still be felt here.
“There was an air of ruin and destruction,
Something which betrayed a final and irrevocable adieu;
One couldn’t watch without feeling one’s heart wrung.
We are now watching the expulsion,
Of one of the most celebrated and ancient American peoples.”
Alexis de Tocqueville
Our vast nation was founded on the premise
That all men are equal, with god-given rights
But, that very sadly, has not always stopped us
Our elected leaders, don’t always do what’s right
In 1830, our Congress passed ‘The Indian Removal Act’
And, President Andrew Jackson quickly signed it into law
French writer Alexis de Tocqueville, observed it happening
Congressman Davy Crockett resigned in total disgust, not awe
And soon, in our nation, over 12,000 men, women, and children
Were now forced to leave their homes, and travel over 1,000 miles
It was a most grueling trip, across many states, in the dead of winter
And over 4,000 of them perished, on this forced trail, where they cried
And these were not nomadic, heathen, savages forced to leave their homes
These were a group of civilized Native Americans, with rights to their land
They had built roads, schools, churches, and their own system of government
Sadly, not everyone is always equal in America; our history, not always grand
The route they traversed from Georgia to Oklahoma,
And their arduous journey through numerous states,
Has become known today as ‘The Trail of Tears.’
The Cherokee People call it ‘Nunna daul Tsuny,’
‘The Trail Where They Cried.’
Pictured Above: The Trail of Tears,
Oil on canvas, by Robert Lindneux, 1942;
In the Woolaroc Museum, Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
©2009, Mr. Ed
Share
Print
Save
Georg
Be always safe,
Karen
AS DISGUSTING AS THE MISTREATMENT OF VETERANS!
TOM.
fee
Love Tinky
A great write Ed, keep on helping us to see better with our hearts.
Blessings! Jasmin Horst
China is presently undergoing a similar situation where the land is being taken from the people and they're being forced to live in tents ...
and then again, in America, i presently hear a lot about imminent domain beginning to procure ...
Cheers and peace,
Dan
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tx., Karen Lynn. :( *tears!*
Anna
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
mary etta
Thank you for the history lesson. It was indeed a sad time and a black mark on our country.
Mary