The water, the sky and the earth. Chapter four.

War teaches nothing. Just killed the gentleness in a man heart.

The Water, the Sky and the Earth. Chapter four

A Chapter by Coyote Poetry

 Part four of my story of four Native Americans. 

The Water, the Sky and the Earth. .
                Red Fox war.     Part four


              Africa and Native American Culture.
              Life is a seamless cycle,
              We are one with Nature.
                           James Mannion


              If you drink and take pill.
              Your body will deteriorate and
              it will go back to the Earth sooner.
                          Unknown



  Sage is our protector. Chief Joseph blessed the house in the night. He told them. The white sage protects us against bad spirits and draws them out of our bodies and soul. He smiled and he told them. Sage can be made into tea being a antiseptic for allergies, colds and fever. A gargle for sore throats. A tea to calm the nerves. Today we take a long walk to the ridge. To be with the Hawks and
the Eagles. I will bring my special damiana tonic. Oldest cure I have at the cabin.
I go to Mexico often. To collect the plants of the desert. Remember the plants are part of Earth and we must thank them for growing and healing our pain. I have a friend Don Francis. He lived near Hermosillo. He is 80 year old. A healer and herbalist. He can tell and show you where to find the healing plants. He will tell you often. They talk to him.


Red Fox was nervous. He asked the Chief. Did he have whiskey? The Chief touched Red Fox forehead.
I have calea zacatechishi tea. Will downgrade the desire for the whiskey. He goes to the small kitchen. Boil the water. Adding dried herbs into the water. Little Wolf holds the hands of Red Fox. She whispered it will be Okay. She hummed a song to him. Coyote sat and watched. His Grandmother used many natural plants. She knew of many natural cures. Her favorite was for us kids. Honey and vinegar for pain and bruises. One spoon of honey and equal portion of vinegar. Mix together. Put on the wound (Not open) with a white cloth. Instant healing of pain and bruising in 5-10 minutes. Coyote missed being in her house. He was safe. He remembered her chanting beautiful songs to him as a child. She was a beautiful Ojibwa woman.

Chief Joseph passed the tea only to Red Fox. The tea is very strong and sweet. He told him.”Calea zacatechihi” have been used for many years. The users of the tea in Mexica call it bitter grass. Helps with headaches and depression. Some say makes you a better lover. They all laughs. The Chief refilled the cup of Red Fox. He poured a cup for himself and for Coyote and Little Wolf. Red Fox wasn’t shaking anymore. He smiled. Got up and hugged the old Chief. The laughter of the four bring peace into the house.
Chief Joseph hands them two containers. One with fresh water and the other with the damiana tonic.
he told them. The tonic will open the mind and the damiana is a helper. If the great spirit allows. Can heal and defeat demons in the mind and heart.
They walked toward the falling sun in the west. The mountain was getting difficult to climb. As they got closer to the cliffs. The Hawks were on alert. Chief Joseph told them. There are much power in the plants and herbs. Need the proper steps to be able to see what the world is. Some plants can drive you crazy. Look at the people using LSD. Some people can’t handle the the true vision caused by the fungus. When your eyes can see everything. Your eyes truly open. You can become stronger or fall to the confusion and fear of the next moment. The mescaline (Peyote) had took many great people to the edge of death and death for many. When you see everything. The good and the bad. Your true spirit will come out. There must be a control environment when using the powerful plants. Only a fool would use LSD and mescaline for fun. You see everything and something everything can scare you forever.
The damiana tonic is a helper. Help to open up the mind and the heart. Can free us of the bad dreams.

They reached  the top of the mountain. The cliff they stood upon you could see for miles. The Chief told them. This has been holy ground for us Native Americans for a thousand years. He point at some rocks in a circle. We will sit together on the meditation rocks. The Hawks were many now. Watching the four people. They flew above for a time and they watched from a distance.


Chief Joseph lit the sage. Blessing the ground and thanking the Great Spirit. He thanks the Water, the Sky and the Earth for this night. He told them to drink the tonic. Little Wolf told them about her Grandmother. She was forced into the white man school. They cut her long hair and they gave her a new name. She ran away from the school and she hid in the mountain with the Cherokees. Coyote told her the same thing happen to his Grandmother. She couldn’t escape. Took years of pain and suffering.
She would not speak of this time in her life. My mother told me. My Grandmother went crazy in her young days. She was lucky.  My Step-Grandfather saved her and she still has a good and full life.


They sat together. Chief Joseph began to speak.
“Take 5 deep breaths.
Hold them.
The sixth breath hold for 10 seconds.
Allow the pain and suffering to gather.
Hold it.”


Red Fox falls to the ground. His eyes are wide open. He is screaming “Get down. Get down William, Mcdonald and Davis. He screams too damn late.” Red Fox tried to get up. Coyote and Chief Joseph held him down. He is yelling. “F**k I can’t kill them all.” He awoke crying. He told them. It was late January 1968. Camping at Khe Sanh. The Tet Offensive. We were over-ran. We fought and fought. So much f*****g death all around me.


Chief Joseph picked up Red Fox. He told them” Take five breaths.
Bring the air into the body.
Allow the holy ground to help in the healing.
Take a deep breath and hold it.
Release.”


The Hawks were close now. This was their home. Chief Joseph light the sage and he thanks the Hawks and the Eagles for sharing their home. They walked quietly down the hill. Red Fox told them. First time I talks of the war to anyone. Chief Joseph smiled and he told them. Somethings cannot heal. Some wounds are forever. Healing can’t take them away. We must learn from them. Learn to live with them.”


“Men are foolish.
Sending boy’s to learn death before life.
The prime of their young lives.
Learning death and killing.”


The rest of the walk was in silence.



             Coyote

Author's Note

Thank you for reading.

Reviews

[softlyfall]

This was such a pleasure to read. There is so much about native American culture that I find compelling- especially earth connectedness and being grateful. Though my actual linage only includes Montauketts, I grew up hearing Chinook Jargon since my mother was born in Montana.
You pace so well, develop characters with such authenticity.
You know that photo you use makes me think of my great grandfather- a mysterious "HR" tipped him off that The Hole in the Wall Gang were going to hit his bank and he called in everyone he knew to head them off (The Meeteetse bank, now First National Bank)
This led to the formation of a formal government in the area.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you for reading. I write many years ago. I am retired now. I m fixing the old work. I was lucky when I was in the Army. The Apaches near Fort Hood, Texas. Liked me. They taught me. Find real purpose to be alive.