Karena Stands Tall (Karena Series)

by Amber "V" Moonstone      4/18/08

Darkeness surrounds my soul,
I hear the elders voices in my mind,
urging me to continue forward;
moving North toward the Great Mountain.

The children are asleep,
I travel toward the brightest star
knowing that the sun will rise soon.
We must reach shelter before long.

I hear the rustling of the leaves,
The night sounds of creatures stirring,
but I stand tall in the saddle, moving North.
The children are my source of endurance.

Father, do not forsake me,
Let the Eagle fly with us toward safety,
Many moons have gone by,
And there are dangerous spirits about.

I strain to see ahead,
and just as I approach the bridge,
A giant black bear approaches.
I will stand strong, not showing fear.

He is just standing there watching us,
I look him square in the eyes,
and he backs away and leaves.
I am Karena, Eagle Medicine Woman.

One day all people will live as one people,
We will not fight but we will live in peace.
Bloodshed will be no longer,
and blood brothers will be united.

Many braves and squaws have perished,
why does life seem so meaningless?
My people have done nothing wrong,
but why do we have to abandon our land?

We are becoming extinct,
like the water buffalo,
and there is no longer a reservation;
Everyone has scattered and left.

I have news from the elders,
They have spoken of a peaceful solution,
We must sign a peace treaty
before it is too late.

No more bloodshed on our land,
No more famine on our land,
No more fires burning our villages,
No more children losing their heritage.

This is what the elders want them to know,

But is anyone left to listen?
I am weary from not sleeping,
famished from little bits of food,
but most of all worried for my children.

When the eagle soars
over the next mountain,
I shall fly along with him,
And where that eagle lands,
Is where my heart will stay.

Oh Eagle spirit of the sky,
Know I shall follow you and
at the right moment, I will stand Strong
and know that I belong to the greater spirit of the Whispering Wings.

Guide me on this journey,
Let me see the way toward beauty,
grace and tranquility,
never giving up on finding true contentment.

Karena, Eagle Medicine Woman 

July 1610