An Encounter with Sir Thomas Dale (Karena Series)

by Amber "V" Moonstone

2/10/10

The calm of the ocean left Karena satisfied,
she stood on the edge of the docks.
It was quiet this early in the morning
and the Jamestown Settlement was asleep.

In the distance she could see ships
heading toward the shore.
Soon she would have to go back to her family.
Curiosity got the best of her, and she stayed.

Finally she could see the sails that bore the symbol
Of the white man's mother land,
maybe the Queen would be aboard.
She would try to catch a glimpse.

She hid silently behind the brush.
One by one, the white men and women
walked off the ships.
There were three big ships that came in.

No sign of a Queen,
Karena was about to give up
when she saw the ornately dressed white man
surely it was the man they called Sir Thomas Dale.

He was tall,
with dark hair on his face,
His pants were puffy and
he wore a big white collar around his neck.

"Sir Thomas Dale" the captain of the ship shouted,
You must be careful the natives are all around,
they will attack you as sure as you are standing here,
Now quickly to safety.

Sir Thomas Dale chuckled and yelled back,
"I am not afraid, we must make peace with them,
so that we can finish what we started here,
Now take my things to my quarters!"

His voice bellowed loudly as he demanded
respect and obedience.
The porters obeyed and swiftly collected
his belonging and brought them to shore.

Karena was mesmerized by his appearance,
she had never seen a more beautiful white man.
She must speak with him,
only for a moment.

She waited for him to be alone and quietly
called out his name.  He looked around
but could not see anyone.
Then she stepped out from behind the brush.

He stood frozen for a moment and then grabbed
the gun from his belt.
"Sir, I mean no harm, I am alone and must talk with you,
can you please just come here for a moment."

He felt no danger and walked over to Karena,
"What is your name?"
"I am Karena, Powhatan's Eagle Medicine Woman".
"Oh, a very powerful woman I see."

"Yes, Sir, I have much power and favor with the Chief"
"What do you wish of me, Karena?"
"I wish for you to find peace with my people,
we must live in harmony with each other and the Earth".

"I understand what you are saying, I will do my best
to grant that for you, but I am only one man,
many men hate your people, and want to destroy them,
I want to learn how to survive in your land."

"Very wise man, you are Sir Thomas Dale.
I shall talk with the elders and give them this
information.  We can teach you, but you must
respect our ways and stop all these killings".

"Karena, you speak English very well,
who has taught you my language?"
"Thomas Rolfe and others have been kind
and we have taught them of the tobacco plant as well."

"Oh, I see, a bit of a barter system already,
nicely done.  If only everyone in your nation
was as wise and beautiful as you are."
"I am a woman of a special warrior, that makes me
the way that I am, do you understand?"

"Yes Karena, I understand."
"Good day Sir Thomas Dale,
bring peace to all, otherwise
your people will be very sad indeed."

With that, Karena turned and ran back to her family,
She was very brave to have attempted that talk
with the new Chief of the White man.
Tumas will be very angry with her when he finds out.

May 19, 1611
Landing of the three ships at Jamestown Settlement

Karena, Eagle Medicine Woman

"An Encounter With Sir Thomas Dale" (c) 2/10/10