To lose the past means the Future is lost. But to destroy the past is to destroy ourselves.
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Lost

While walking across this sacred land
I came across an earthen mound.
Upon the grass I placed my hand,
Rested my head upon the ground.

I heard within a beating sound,
Like the beating of a distant drum.
Soft at first it began to pound,
Within my head, a throbbing hum.

As if I’d slipped into a trance,
The scene around me began to change.
Ghostly Warriors before me danced.
Old men sang in a tongue that was strange.

Faster came those throbbing drums,
Dancers whirled and twirled around.
Before my eyes a procession comes.
Smashing pots upon the ground.

An Old One is looking straight at me,
With eyes of fire, burning coal.
Though I know he can’t see me.
Those eyes burn deep within my soul.

He rises, stands before where I lay
His lips are moving, speaking to me.
I strain to hear what he would say.
He alone is all I can see.

“Look and behold the world I had known,
Before the coming of the beast.
Before the poison seed had been sown.
Before his seed had grown and increased.

In your time my People have gone.
Ground to dust, blood covered the ground.
Their spirits now dance, and sing the Ghost song.
All that is left is this sacred mound.

Soon this too, will also be gone.
The souls of the People forever lost.
The Sky Gods will weep tears in the sun.
The Beast will laugh, not counting the cost.

When you awaken heed what I say
Tell all that you meet, the things you have seen.
The Dream is but dying, it will die on this day.
Let no-one forget where my people have been”

He reached out and placed, within my palm.
An object he closed my fingers around.
He held me and smiled, so gentle and calm.
I awoke to a roaring cacophonous sound.

Graders and Dozers had gathered around,
The base of this great sacred way.
Workmen were shouting, calling me down.
The Freeway must go through today.

I walked down the road, pondered my dream.
Stopping I gazed ‘cross the land.
Decided that nothing, is what it seems.
Till I slowly opened my hand.

There in my palm stood a small figurine
Carved out of turquoise, I saw ‘twas a bear.
In a flash I remembered all I had seen,
And realised I really was there.

Looked back and saw the mound was but gone,
With sorrow I felt the tears fill my eyes,
As I wept for the People and all they had done.
The rain poured down from clear skies.

Robin. A. Spicer
© 2003-09-23