A Response to the 16 word challenge at firesidepoetry.com. Words to use:
Redemption, agony, filth, aloof, seduction, sarcasm, season, meaning
nothingness, foretold, behold, sold, care, sear, fear, reason,

Spotted Owl’s Dream


They stood above us,
Aloof and distant,
When they spoke down to us,
We heard the sarcasm in their voice,
“Behold,” they said in strident tones,
“We have come to save you from your filth,
We shall teach you reason,
And how to speak like us,”
So they took our children,
And sold our land,
Tricked by the seduction of peace and harmony,
But their treaties and false words,
Had no meaning,
In agony we realized too late,
Our future was dead,
A gray nothingness lay before us,
We were betrayed.

But Spotted Owl had a dream...


He saw our Redemption in blazing clarity,
Though they attempted to sear our hearts,
With fear and self loathing;
He foretold of a time when we would be free again!
“This season of tears will pass”, he told us,
As we stood in the high desert reservation,
Where they chained us to the past-
“We shall rise again,
And be one with the Great Spirit!
Our hopes renewed,
Our sacred circle mended!
Our children’s Children will return home,
And the ancient ways will be restored!
We shall care for the Mother Earth once more,
Her gifts will flow in our blood,
And the people will live as one!”

His dream is coming true ,
Our people are finding their hearts,
Our grandchildren are learning the old ways,
Taught to see the beauty in life,
To hold true to the sacred circle,
We live as one with the Great Spirit,
Our people are home!