No smiles but miles of tears with fear,
Our home stolen and made to roam,
When will insidious desecration end
And re-creation begin in redemption
Of our native land in bands of liberty?
Railroads, byways, rigs and pipelines
All fine to corporate heads dead
To the living world in which they live!
They destroy our worth
With our mother Earth,
But do they consider the bitter truth?
They are destroying themselves, too;
Is this truth that they never knew?
Stand with us against this grand plan
To further mar land and poison water;
Withstand this planned defilement
Without giving in to any beguilement!
To stand with us is to stand with you ~
This earth is also place of your birth ~
For we are all one under shining sun,
And our work of restoration just begun!
Important Note to Readers: I have drawn my inspiration for this poem from Tanya’s “with reservation,” and would strongly urge/encourage you to read her poem and the information she provides. ALSO, please very seriously consider signing the “Stop the Dakota Access Pipeline” petition, and please know that it does not matter if you reside in another country! Well over 300,000 people have already signed and some of those signers are from outside the U. S. Just bear in mind that this issue concerns largely helpless Indigenous Peoples who need your voice as much as any other. Thank you and God bless!
noblethemes 
Excellent, Jonathan! I was so glad that you included railroads in this, as it was the advent of the railroad that facilitated the decimation of the buffalo, the primary food and living source for the plains people. For anyone who reads this and hasn’t learned the numbers, the buffalo herds in the 1860’s numbered as many as 30 million. With the hunting in the first few years of the 1870’s, encouraged by government officials who understood it as a way to decimate and ultimately control the native populations, the herds depleted to near extinction numbers of only 1000. The railroads allowed for the shipment East of all those pelts. In many ways, the pipeline is just a continuation of that sad story.
You are so right, Tanya! And thank you for your most gracious words!
I came across this again in my morning feed and just wanted to let you know that I was encouraged and uplifted at the re-read of it. Iron sharpens iron…
Better than my morning coffee…
Thank you so much for saying so, Tanya! You’ve just really lifted my spirits… Better than morning coffee??? Now THAT’S say a LOT!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Well, I haven’t had my morning coffee yet; but after the read, I was all fired up again…Lol (I’m getting a late start this a.m.)😊