How The West Was...

A two-voice poem by MJ Matteson and Gladys

How the West was...

How the West was...

Won  
 

Lost

This is our land!

This is our land!

Land of the free...  
 

Home of the brave...

We discovered this land!  
 

We discovered disease.

We come for the riches.  
 

And still do not leave.

Can we ever make peace?

Can we ever make peace?

Sign this treaty.  
 

Just broken promises.

Have this land...  
 

It was our land...

Just get off this land!  
 

Just another trail of tears.

Speak our language...  
 

I ta lavayi! (This is our language! Hopi)

Wear our clothes...  
 

These are my clothes.

Be AMERICAN!

Be AMERICAN!

I just want to own some land.  
 

How can you own the rivers
And the trees
And the animals around?

A place to call my own.  
 

Can you own the air we breathe?

I want this soil!  
&nbap;

Our sacred corn.

I want this gold!  
 

Mere rocks upon the ground.

I want  
 

Harmony

I want  
 

Respect

I want!

I want!

We have been fighting.  
 

For a long time.

Blood has been spilled.  
 

On this very ground.

You stand in the way.  
 

You push us aside.

You are the enemy.

You are the enemy.

You skin our heads.  
 

You massacre us all.

We fear you.

We fear you.

You must be exterminated!  
 

We will soon be few.

We will send you to school.  
 

Just to steal our children.

We want the best for you.  
 

At the cost of our heritage.

BIA will take care of you.  
 

And take away our dignity
Respect
And lives

Live on the reservation.  
 

Until something precious is found.

You must follow the treaty.  
 

Even as you ignore it.

To be American
Is to live free
 
 

And take our liberties.

Pursue happiness  
 

And give us misery.

Own this land  
 

By taking it from us

It is our right!

It is our right!

Give us the forests clad
mountains, and the valleys full
of game.
 
 

In return what do we get?

Rum, trinkets, and a grave.  

|~Poetry Page~ |~ECI307~ |~School~ |~Home Page~