Are We Next Poem by Connie Wine

So many people lost to death, along the trail of tears
forced from their homes by a race who claimed they were superior
made to leave land they had lived on since the beginning of time

White man came and said the Cherokee way was wrong
that they were savages and had no right to this land
they had to leave everything behind and start west

Some refused to go so they hid in the mountains
lived off the land as best they could
keeping to the deep dark forests and mountains

White man could not completely erase the Cherokee people
no matter how hard they tried
the People were strong in ways we may not understand

Visit these brave people on the land they hold dear
listen to the stories they tell of their ancestors
who are still so close

Heed their words and their beliefs
for if the future stays on course, we will be considered savages
and others who consider themselves superior will do the same to us

Know that if we do not listen and change our ways
we will be next to fall
if we do not cry for the past we will never see the future



spiritraven (Connie Wine) 08/02/09