Copyright – Adam Ickes
Listen!
The great forest is long gone, now a scattering of towns, fields and little tamed woods. The wild rivers have been enslaved, giving their energy to great engines of commerce. The thunder of hooves no longer rolls across the prairie. Crystal pure lakes now lap waves with an oily sheen onto dead shores.
Listen!
We are gone, but we are not forgotten. People use and misuse our image. But it is in the land where we are missed.
Listen!
The wind still calls our names. The ground still rises up in anticipation of our footfalls. The land remembers.
Listen!
***
I know this is cultural appropriation of the worst kind, but it was the first thing I thought of when I saw the picture. And it was done with respect to the original peoples of this land.
***
Word count = 100
Friday Fictioneers is hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. This week’s prompt is here and uses a photo © Adam Ickes. Read more or join in by following the InLinkz “linky“.
Nicely done, Trent.
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Thanks. Trying to be respectful :)
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I think you did it well and sensitively. You’ve shown a real difference between cultures – one nurtures the other destroys.
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Thanks Irene. I had recently read an article about Native Americans trying to reclaim the narrative of their culture, so I was a little more sensitive about putting out that I’m not trying to speak for them than before i read it.
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I know. We have the same issue here with our indigenous culture.
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Stunning!
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Thanks!
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Good reminder!
Regards, SLSM.
https://stilllovedstillmissed.wordpress.com/
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Thanks, SLSM.
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I really liked this one, Trent. And the European invaders called if “progress.”
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Thanks, Russel. I think this “progress” stuff is very over rated…
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We are fast approaching the point of no return.
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I agree, the world is about to change, and not for the better.
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So true, the land and nature will always endure. Age before beauty.
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The land and nature will endure, but will perhaps be transformed into something totally unrecognizable.
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Superb writing. You have sensitively addressed the issue.
Loved it.
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Thanks.
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It might be cultural appropriation, but it’s also said that you have to try to walk a mile in another man’s shoes (or maybe moccasins in this case).
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That is true, I am trying to be as true to the source as possible.
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I think this whole thing about cultural appropriation is taken way too out of proportion. If the muse strikes, it strikes. Otherwise, how could male writers have even female characters, and visa versa. This was an appropriate tale for where the photo took you.
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For the most part, I agree and go where the muse takes me. I hope I do right by it and don’t make silly mistakes. I think I was sensitive about it here for two reasons – I write in first person and I had just finished reading a National Geographic article about Native Americans who are trying to reclaim their own story – I don’t want to say, “This, what I am writing, is your story.” But then, as you said, I went where the muse took me…
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“Little tamed woods.” “The land remembers.” You deftly draw the decimation of a people, as their once lush and rich habitat is destroyed, by the same forces of greed and prejudice..
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“Greed and prejudice”: that seems like our mantra as we steam ahead and bulldoze everything in our path, including people.
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And very well done at that. Thank you.
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Thanks
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Very nice, and I like the repetition.
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Thanks.
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Reblogged this on Taylor Grace and commented:
I absolutely loved that poem, from the first word to the last. It’s powerful, beautiful, achingly sad and so captivating. Loved it! A huge thanks to Trent for that wonderful poem.
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Thanks for the reblog :)
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Sad but true. Human greed to make money and unbridled population growth has devoured every natural resource.
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Yes, people’s greed does not take the land into consideration. This story also has another layer in that it is supposed to be written from the point of view of a Native American being sad about what the European settlers did to his ancestors’ land.
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Thank you for explaining.
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And the land remembers the forest.
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It does. A large forest is an organic whole, and the pieces parts still left miss the what is gone.
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Like the Lorax says, Who will speak for the trees? I like your subject matter of nature.
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That subversive Dr. Seuss, teaching kids to be kinder, gentler and more compassionate, how dare he ;) Thanks!
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I really like this Trent 💜
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Thanks, Willow :)
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Pleasure Trent 💜
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I agree, this felt most respectful and I loved the repetition as well (unfortunately, no matter how much it was repeated, they still lost most of it…)
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Thanks, Dale. This month’s National Geographic has a story about Native Americans trying to reclaim their heritage, so I guess I’m trying to be a little more sensitive.
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You did well.
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:)
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A haunting, beautiful piece. I enjoyed the cadence of it!
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Thanks!
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Very nicely done. I liked the repetition.
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Thanks, Sandra.
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Dear Trent,
As some of my main characters in my WIP are Native Americans, I recognized and appreciated the cadence of this piece. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle. I try to have some diversity in my writing, but I know writing from a first person POV can be sensitive for some. I’m glad this came across how I meant it :)
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THat seemed respectful to me, Trent
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Thanks, Neil. I do respect their culture so am glad it came across that way.
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