http://www.Dahni.com/Poetry_files/7Ravnsong/Ravnsong24.htm

by Dahni

i am kahtonga

of the tribe cheeos

of the peoples of Raven

mine wound near fatal but Raven smiles

once mighty warrior

now i am maker and keeper

of The Colored Beads

white man carries too much want

ours simple to take but need

and return our prayers to the land

that each day we may have again

we have no need of weight of books

no blind eye of gold or silver or jewel

our want is joy of our need fed

and the faces of our children

but our greatest need of all

lies within The Colored Beads

next to Chief and Holy Man and Healer

stands i kahtonga

the maker keeper teller

of The Colored Beads

colored beads joined of sinew

form the lifeflow of my people

each bead a word each strand a story

The Colored Beads are my people's greatest treasures

no trade for anything

no give to anyone

no life or lives or people worth even one, The Colored Beads

to lose The Colored Beads it is thought that Raven leave us

and my people's soul would become the smoke

carried away to never be again

The colored Beads are our past our present and our future

i kahtonga hear from the Wise Ones

Great Chiefs Great Holy Men

Great Healers

Great Warriors of my people

Great Women of my people

and make stranded The Colored Beads

i kahtonga maker and keeper of

The Colored Beads

tell all and re-tell all to my people

greatness of my people i tell

to instruct the little ones to prove the young ones

to temper the mighty ones to comfort the aged ones

for The Colored Beads are the voices of our words

i kahtonga came to this most great task

a once a great warrior, i fell of near fatal wound

but Raven smiles

for once ago, alone on foot at hunt

i came to fountained lake to drink my fill

as my lips tasted i looked up to the sun

and saw a maid bathing more bright than sun

more song than fountain or Raven's voice, more joy

more beauty than the rainbow or the Raven's wings in flight

but she was my brother's

my wound of heart of want of maid, the wise ones said would heal

in make of The Colored Beads to remember, i would forget

i make beads all the day and night when sleep steals from me

to forget in remembering, the voices of The Colored Beads

for long moon and sun, many now past

kahtonga still makes and keeps and tells The Colored Beads

but in remembering the voices of The Colored Beads

i cannot forget

and would give my place

to look upon the maid once more

from the collection 'Ravnsong' by the same author

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