Promissory Note. Poem by Buddy Bee Anthony

Mother Earth is sacred ground.
The land that all of our grandfather's
father's lived and died to protect.
Ages before erecting courts of law
Many bled and died upon contested lands
Promises, compromise settlement
agreements between peoples to live together
in peace, were made,
but too many were broken.
Treaties hammered from, blood oath sacrifice.
these treaties, made between Sovereign nations
Solemn, promises which must be honored.
not casually broken.
Wise men and women of all tribes have realized
we must protect Mother Earth.
Still there are dirty tricks
and back door deals
being rubber stamped
in favor of narrow special interest
for short term gain, carrying with
them long term harmful
environmental consequences for us all.

Fracking has been an
ecological disaster
poisoning our ground water.
Oil drilling causes pervasive pollution
Doing immeasurable damage.
to our oceans, atmosphere and top soils.
There's danger of igniting firestorms
transporting, noxious, flammables
in the manufacture of petrol.
These and other compounds are
hazardous,
toxic, to all living things.


Native people
the stewards of this land
Are our first line of defense.
But all of us must, send out the alarm
because it's not just a fight for Native rights on
Native lands
but a fight for the survival for us all.
Judges in high courts have begun to understand
all life is interconnected and of unfathomable value
Mother Earth is much more than
a marketing tool for profit
for corporations to expand their reach.
Alliances for survival must be forged
being aware of our ever increasing
footprint.
The time is now
not just environmentalists
but scientists and merchants
to speak.
Begin planning counter measures
to wholesale planetary degredation.

Too much is at stake.
Business moguls
must look and act to secure our distant future.
Not just to satisfy quarterly reports.
disregarding our living connection
to the ground we walk on.
Legal sleight of hand
has granted human rights to corporations.
How shortsighted we can gets
when profit is at stake.
It's past time to
protect our planet.
To honor solemn promises
hammered out long ago
with each other
and our first nation people.
Promises to protect against
us from extinction.
We are all living
on sacred earthly ground.
We must care better for our air, waters and lands
To remain vigilant watchdogs and when necessary
sound the alarm, as witnesses.
Be forever mindful, as stewards
of the one planet we all share
There isn't a spare planet.
Allow our Native brothers and sisters to
keep fulfilling their worthy promises
treaties made
with an oath to
honor and protect
our land, air, and water.
Taking care to protect and watch over
life sustaining waterways, streams, lakes and rivers.
Assuring clean drinking water bubbling up from the ground.
Mother Earth is urgently crying out for our help.
Think long and hard before soiling this precious legacy.
It's the legacy our ancestors left to all of us
and we must not violate that legacy.
Everyone must join the fight for better
Everyone must do their part.
for the sake of all our descendants.
and all life
here on Mother Earth.

Buddy Bee Anthony



All publishing and editing rights reserved 'as is' by this author edited 10/15/2025 @6; 34 PM Pacific Time