Who Dares Desecrate Sacred Land Sacred Graves? Poem by Terence George Craddock

now hear a chanted verdict
on sacred burials an injustice
an American Congress Senate
will not desecrate Valley Forge

War of Independence sacred
burials or honoured Civil War
burials at Gettysburg National
Cemetery (Pennsylvania, USA)

sacred World War I and II burials
Korean War Viet Nam War burials

all are sacred Arlington National Cemetery
originally a Civil War cemetery near Washington, D.C.
has evolved into a burial ground for veterans
from every major conflict in American history

including the Revolutionary War a place of national respect

a place of solemn remembrance which honors
those who served their country with distinction
but sacred Native American burial sites are desecrated

to build a Dakota Access Pipeline in September 2016
construction workers bulldozed a section of privately owned
land Standing Rock tribe claimed as sacred ground

no surprise a federal judge in Washington DC declined
to order halt of all construction on a portion of contentious
Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) a route Standing Rock

Sioux Tribe had identified as sacred tribal burial ground
a site sudden desecration bulldozed over Labor Day weekend
Native Americans from various tribes rushed to protect

sacred site their land the response security workers
used attack dogs and pepper spray to attack Native Americans
resulting in injuries to demonstrators a protest horse


Terence George Craddock (Afterglows Echoes Of Starlight)
Copyright © Terence George Craddock