Our Homeland Poem by L MILTON HANKINS

When shadows fall across embattled land
Dusk creeps slowly westward over the plains
Comes a wailing, howling of the coyotes
Searching for prey among the dry creek runs.
Thirsty animals, like humans, take risks
Seek out the sweet nectar of the rainclouds
Potable water, life's necessity
This cracked earth, barren of tillable soil.

Given for our homeland--great Sioux nation
And Lakota--once land of thunderbeasts!
Our land carved from brokenness and hardship
For generations we courageous fought.
We will never surrender one acre
To greedy Eastern oil-hungry barons
Not one dried-up ditch for a leaden pipe
Winding across our sacred tear-stained soil.