The Capture of Karena

by Amber "V" Moonstone

2/26/10

The trees sheltered Karena from the hot sun,
as she ran back to her family.
Thoughts of her encounter with Sir Thomas Dale
flooded her mind and heart.

She was totally absorbed in thought
when out of nowhere stood a white man with a rifle.
He shouted, "Halt, or I will shoot you dead".
Karena stopped and looked him square in the eyes.

"You, savage, where do you think you are going?
You have no right in this part of my land."
He grabbed her hands and tied them behind her.
"Now, you are coming with me, do not make a sound."

Karena was silent, but her mind was working hard.
Somehow this white man looked familiar.
They were headed toward the Jamestown Settlement.
She was relieved, for sure, Sir Thomas Dale will let her go.

Upon entering the village, the white men snickered
and the white women yelled, "You slut, You dirty savage."
Karena didn't flinch, she held her head high.
She was thrown in a building that housed the animals food.

The thickened air held the foulest stench,
Karena threw up what little she had eaten.
As she looked around, she knew what the smell was.
It was the blood and sweat from the many who were held
captive in this tiny building.

Karena gathered up the cleanest hay should could find,
and lay upon it to contemplate a plan for escape.
Among her thoughts were her children and Tumas.
She vowed to be back alive as soon as she could.

During her slumber, she dreamt of her father,
his words always filtering in her mind
giving her encouragement and love.
He was such a powerful man and chief.

"Wake Up, our Governor wants to see you,
Come, follow me, and keep your mouth shut."
Karena stood up in a sleepy stupor,
knowing that she had better listen and go with this man.

She was led into the Church,
It was a building that was very cold and simple,
a huge criss cross wooden object was the focus of her eyes,
She never saw such a huge object before.

"You are the woman I met earlier today,
what is your mission young lady?"
Karena turned around to see Sir Thomas Dale,
"I was trying to return to my family, when I was taken.
Can I please go now? They will be looking for me!"

"You are Powhatan's Medicine Woman?"
"Yes, I told you that today, I must return to my people."
"Yes, you will go, but before that we must have a talk."

"Karena, You will go tell your people that we want to
live in peace with them, we want to learn about the tobacco plant and thrive here in this new land."
"Sir Thomas, I will, but the white man always speaks
with a twisted tongue, are you an honest man?"

"Yes, I will do my best to honor my words,
I trust you, now you must begin to trust me."
He walked over to Karena and untied her hands.
He took her hand gently and kissed it.

Karena was puzzled at this show of affection,
but felt his energy, and knew he was sincere.
"Yes, Sir Thomas I believe and trust in your word."
She took her hand back and said, "I must go now,
my family will be very worried and angry with me."

Sir Thomas escorted Karena to the gates of freedom,
She ran like the wind back to her family.
As she rounded the road to her village,
she saw Tumas standing there with his hands on his hips.

He was really angry, and she knew that she was in for
a long explanation of where she had been.
She felt so good to be home, she did not care if he was angry, she only wanted to feel his arms around her.

"Tumas, it is so good to see you, I have had quite
an adventure, wait till you hear it......"

Karena, Eagle Medicine Woman
May 19, 1611

The Capture of Karena
Amber "V" Moonstone
2/25/10