The Warrior Princess
She stood proud and defiant before her peers,
Her heart racing; wise beyond her years,
There would be a war coming soon the elders said,
These are things where women should not tread.
War is not for the faint of heart or weak of arm,
Women do not go, they may come to harm,
Trust the elders, their words are wise and true,
They only seek to love and protect you.
“You do not understand!”, she said with fire in her eyes,
“My aim is true, my heart is more vast than the skies,
I ride a steed better than most of the men here,
Give me a chance to show my worth, I do not fear!”
“I was born to give back what you have given me,
My guardian above has told me, now hear my plea!
For swiftness, sure sight, and being of pure heart,
I am strong enough to wield my share I do impart!”
The elders paused to take another look at this woman,
Who dared to speak brazenly, her body now wooden,
Rooted to her chosen place; in front of the circle of fire,
Her every word and action displays of her desire.
“Go now and leave us to think this problem over,
When the sun rises and is the color of ocher,
You may return to this place of men for your answers,
We will pray to the gods with drums and dancers.”
The next morning as the sun began to rise,
She dressed and thought of the elders, so wise,
Would they agree to let her join the men in war?
Or leave her here with the women on the shore.
She walked alone to the circle of wise elders,
Lost in wonderment about the answer,
Do they see I am not afraid to give of my life?
Help end all these years of hatred and strife.
Moving with an ageless grace of beauty and form,
She stands to face the winds of the coming storm,
Because, you see, they did agree to let her fight,
They saw in her proof; they saw strength in her light.
“I wanted to feel,
smell, hear and see,
but not see with my eyes
and my mind only.
I wanted to see with CANTE ISTA
-the eye of the heart.”
–Lame Deer, LAKOTA
February, 2003
Food for thought: What one single person in your life changed yours for the good?
