Watching, waiting
Sitting atop the Appalachian mountain.
Viewing the Cherokee village below
Unnoticed as of yet
Keen eyes always wary
They are deep into a celebration

We just want to camp
Maybe stay awhile
We don't know if they are friendly,
hospitable, tolerant
To the white man invading
Their home and wilderness

The trees are giants
Swaying back and forth
The land abundant for planting
Fields a plenty, green grasses
Eager to start a fire 
Someone must intrude upon them

Walking slowly with hands held out
No weapons to be seen
Through the village of these
Different looking people
Coming to a stop once noticed

A big dark man with a white
feather in his hair steps forward
Heart beating wildly
Who knows if it's to be the last day
to breathe your life giving air

He looks up and down, studying
Grunts, and in civilized english
welcomes a peaceful newcomer
Words exchanged, hands shaken
Corn for planting offered

You've just been given a blessing
If peaceful they will welcome
you to share a vast land  
You are respected for your bravery
in asking, and being trusted
to hold to the peace offered

It is a vast land
If treated with respect the land
will prosper and be fruitful
You will be living by a great
nation of people
With strong beliefs and peace
in their hearts

There will be peace in the Appalachians
For a while anyways.
Before the white man
Breaks his promise and destroys
the gift he's been given
Destroys the vast wilderness
surrounding him 

But people will always remember
the peace that once was
The proud warriors that roamed free
The dutiful, hard working women
And children running freely in play
The proud nation that once enjoyed
life on the Appalachian Mountains