Apache Indians Poem by bobby beddoe

Apache Indians

Ther's no written Apache history
Other than just blunt allegory;
That is, white man's story.
Nothing from Apache's ancestral memory!
The exact trails nomads traveled
From Siberia, then slowly ambled
T' the American Southwest,
Took much time, prehistorians suggest.
Using e'ery primitive devise known
T' bag great beasts - site finds shown.
'Twas circa 500 years
B'fore they changed gears!
Finally, a'tho, In later centuries,
Groups, according t' theories,
Became isolated from brothers;
Yet, juxtaposed t' their cultural others,
While developing subtribes in-toto:
Chiricahua, Jicarilla, Lipan and Mescalero:
The four also called Apacheans, too.
For this in verse essay - the latter two,
Our poem, from time th' indigenous rose,
T' th' end, when soldiers came to oppose,
Midst an epic of unsung decades,
Historians date 1200s for first escapades.
Territorial limits - by tribe or band;
Unwelcomed oft killed when on Apachean land,
Whose unmarked limits describe
Small bands within a tribe.
Each related through maternal line,
And share kinship, cuisine, and dine.
By late 1500s males designed own attire -
Quite daunt and dire:
'Twas headbands, knee-length boots, and breechcloths,
Little girl's garb was skins for 'cloths',
Ponchos for women - grown.
For little tykes, clad was unknown.
Big boys slept in house - out o' sight,
Then played by-light-of-moon all night.
Houses of domed brush huts - some, the tee-pee,
Are left behind when time t' migrate or flee.
Women's job: break camp, tend kids, sewing,
Knappin' points, jerkee, sun-dried slabs, and cooking.
Some rode along with men on warpath,
T' vixen on enemy Apachean wrath.
Women, in response t' camp's food shortage,
Sent men t' raid enemy for pillage.
1596, Th' Spanish brought horses (via)
Hot sun, and sandy plains - Arabia.
Yes, like their New World's arid land.
Spainsh tought Pueblos - horses afore-hand;
1680s, Pueblos rebell'd - kept th' mustang,
And from that a new life style sprang!
Ancient Pueblos and Apache nomads,
Joined forces and became comrads,
Until th' acquisition of New Mexico
Neither chang'd very little since embryo;
'Xcep Pueblos - last ones standing
Since their first landin'!
Abandon'd wild herds were fair game,
Left for th' taking - to tame.
Now, with bow and arrow in armory,
Apachians used broncos - war glory!
Hence, war oft turned nasty
'Tween Apache and Comanche!
Unfortunitly, Apaches liked horse meat
Better than Buffalo meat.
Which contributed t' their demise
Had that not been otherwise.
Comanches, inversely, rose t' new heights,
Developed a skill not known to whites;
Hangin' o'er th' horses' side, keepin' enemy in check,
While shooting arrows under horses' neck!
By 1830 prairie land was alter'd at brisk rates,
As Indian land was carved up into states.
Soon settlers began movin' in - night and day,
So the Indians were in white man's way!
Reservations were created in '51
To settle all Native Americans on.
That's aft'r white's diseases - extermination,
Spread with dier apocalyptic intention!
The struggle t' th' death had thus begun!
Next dozen years Apacheans had an option,
Some chose fightin' - some reservation protection;
Geronimo (though not a chief) took his army,
His tiny remnant, t' mountain country;
But, went back tho almost alone,
Whilst th' rest were not so prone,
Crossed the Rio Grande expectin' conquest;
But, Mexican army finished-off th' rest!
bobby beddoe