PROUDLY ERECT HE STANDS,
AGAINST THE MORNING SKY.
HIS SILHOUETTE OUTLINED,
HORIZON VISIBLE TO THE EYE.
WITH WAR BONNET DONNED,
FEATHERS TO HIS THIGHS;
A PAINT STREAKED FACE,
WAITING FOR THE SUNRISE.
A POWERFUL WAR CHIEF,
WITH A PIERCING EYE.
STRONG AS THE BUFFALO,
HE’LL NEVER SAY “DIE”
HIS GREASED SKIN GLEAMING,
MUSCLES WRAPPED IN SINEW.
BOW AND ARROWS READY,
DOMINATING THE VIEW.
THE SUN SLOWLY RISING,
BLAZING THE SKY RED.
CHASING AWAY THE DARKNESS,
EVIL SPIRITS FLEE IN DREAD.
A MIGHTY WHITE STALLION,
WHICH ONCE ROAMED FREE;
TAMED BY HIS CAPTOR,
HEAD UP, WAITING EXPECTANTLY.
SPREAD OUT BEHIND HIN,
TWO HUNDRED, OUT OF SIGHT.
FIERCE WARRIORS THEM ALL,
WAITING, EAGER TO FIGHT.
BELOW HIM, THE ENCAMPMENT,
THE SLEEPING ENEMIES DOMAIN.
KILL OR BE KILLED,
ALL MEN TO BE SLAIN!
THE GREAT WAR CHIEF,
AS HE MOUNTS HIS STEED;
CRIES “VICTORY OR DEATH,
THE GREAT SPIRITS WILL LEAD!”
1995 BY WAYNE J. WAGAR
