Come Let’S Journey on the Trail That’S Red: (Poems and Writings of American Indian and Christian Spirituality)

By Luke Wanagi Nupa and Lucian A. Tower

Have you ever stopped at a lake in the afternoon, and as you gaze into the waters did you notice your reflection? However, many of us do, but we use mirrors. Do we notice ourselves? We look and remember what used to be instead of what is now. These are memories, and they are moments of our lives that are never forgotten. Mostly the good times, the times of pure love, and the times of deep fear or trauma. Memories are meant to help us in life, even the bad ones. Well, some of you would disagree with me, I know this. However, the memory isnt anything but a reflection and the pain that some people feel associated with these pictures of the past, they are nothing but fear and anxiety. When you awaken are they there? The poet is someone who writes about memories, imagination, good and bad dreams, he listens to the language of the mind and spirit.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 21, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483638119

Luke Wanagi Nupa

I began writing song lyrics, short stories, and poetry some 48-years-ago. While I was in high school, during the 60s, I had the privilege of meeting Poet Laureate of the United States of America, Mr. Robert Frost. He spoke with me discussing my writings, my poetry. He told me to keep writing and reading, and as I continued I would learn so much more, and eventually become a published poet. I have continued writing lyrics, short stories, and poetry. I am now 63-years-old, and I have been published. I have always told other poets and writers to keep on writing, and learning about the many different styles of the written arts. I have also spent 35-years as an entertainer, singer, song writer, and also a musician. I have worked with Tom T. Hall, Billy Jo Spears, Red Sovine, Bobby Bare, and Kitty Wells. I have also played with Rhythm Blues Entertainers too, The Four Tops, The Platters, The Sherelles, and Visions ( Mark Farner, of Grand Funk Railroad, and the survivors of the Lynard Skynard Band). We were an International Country Rhythm Blues Band, and played together for several years. The way I see writing poetry is a likeness to a photograph of a moment, a dream, a place, a thing, a memory. Life comes at us in many ways, sometimes in many different ways at once. It's the situations that arise, the masks some people wear, the way they talk and rub shoulders with everybody. These things make up the poetry I write. When you sit down and look at life you'll find it's much bigger than just us. This is poetry, lyric writing, short stories, journalism, actually all the arts. I have found all things good in writing, even when I'm turned down by an editor. It's all learning, and enjoying what I do. I choose a photograph, a moment, a dream, or a situation and I write about it. I create a picture with words. I live a simple life as a disabled veteran of the U.S.M.C., and of the Vietnam War. However, I am simply me, and I don't try and say I'm someone else. Who am I? Well I'm a human being who loves the arts. My message to you all who reads this is KEEP ON WRITING, KEEP ON KEEPING ON.

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Copyright © 2013 by Lucian A. Tower.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 05/18/2013

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Quotes

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The Great Spirit is beauty, medicine, honor, and our cultural tradition. This is the legacy of the American Indian, and

also the Christian believers, and all whom walk

the Road That Is Red.

Wacasa Wakan Wanagi Nupa

2012

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INDICE

Quotes

Introduction

Attack Of The White Owl

A Lakota Bear

Together

Last Leaf On A Tree

Fancy-Shawl Dancer’s Moccasins

Silver Eagle

You Do All This

A Visit From A Maiden

I’m Not Alone

The Beating Sacred Drum

Thought From The Light Of Heaven

Let It Be Forever

On Your Heart

Dancing Meadow

Came With Me Through The Dark

Prayer

Sacred Silent Night

The Rabbit

Creation’s Song

The Messenger

I Would Reason With You

What Makes A Warrior?

Amazing This Grace

Reading Shadows To Flight

Beside The Still Water

Living Spirit

My People

Spirit Tracks

From The East

To Carry A Mirror

Hidden In The Reeds

Thoughts About The Wilderness

Beyond

Every Soul Be Stirred

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Dew Drops

Prayer On Bear Butte

The Vision On The Plain

Crucify

Nothing Lasts Forever

The Guardian

The Sacred Circle Of Nations (Congleska Wakan)

Good And

Faithful Son

The Sacred Way Of Holy Love

Followed By Shadow

Promise

A Days Walk From Here

Every Ripple Leads To My Savior’s Side

Come, O Kingdom Of God!

The Trail In The Life

The Wind

Sweet Lord I Come, I Come!

An Emotional Trickster’s Breakdown

The Trail Within

I Wrote In My Diary

Two Spirit

Oneness

The Fable Of The Torrent

Be I Job

A Warrior’s Prayer

Insight

The Soil’s Lament

Slippery When Wet

A Shadow In A Life

Will Soon Be Walking Here With Me

Truth

Heyoke* Plea

The Meeting Of Ally Two Spirit

The Wind That Moves

Hagia Sophia #1

Lord

Contemplating

There Are Many

The Cave

The Touch Gave My Tears Release

As The Thunder Being Comes

To Hear The Love Of God

To Have A Home

All My People

What Of The Spirit Love

Pridefulness

A Prayer Of Light

In The Temple

The Prayer Of Wanagi Nupa

When My Dream Comes True

His Light Shines

Two Spirit #3

Multicolored Light

What Is Conjecture?

We Will Catch Up

What Is Damnation?

Bitter Tears Prayer

The Last Journey

It’s The Little People

A Testimony For Whom Will Read

Journey Of A Holy Man

I Hear Rumors

Do You Ever Feel

Hope Is The Strength Of My Faith

Do You Cry When You Peel An Onion?

An American

Indian Prayer

The Trail Of Anger And Prayers

Try

Who And Why Do You

The Way

Introduction

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Have you ever stopped at a lake in the afternoon, and as you gaze into the waters did you notice your reflection? However, many of us do, but we use mirrors. Do we notice ourselves? We look and remember what used to be instead of what is now. These are memories, and they are moments of our lives that are never forgotten. Mostly the good times, the times of pure love, and the times of deep fear or trauma. Memories are meant to help us in life, even the bad ones. Well, some of you would disagree with me, I know this. However, the memory isn’t anything but a reflection and the pain that some people feel associated with these pictures of the past, they are nothing but fear and anxiety. When you awaken are they there? The poet is someone who writes about memories, imagination, good and bad dreams, he listens to the language of the mind and spirit.

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Attack Of The

White Owl

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(Prose Poem)

He walked down the dark street in south Nashville. He knew that this was a high crime area. However, his eyes were on the branches of the trees. There have been many attacks, at night, always at night, from behind the tree leaves:

The victims were slashed about their faces and arms. Their photos were so bloody, it’s a wonder why nobody had died. Not a person on the street but me, and these gnarled trees. Plus I have a deep desire to flee, to split this dangerous place, under these trees.

They who were attacked had said it was a crow, a hawk, and an eagle. Every one of them saw something different, but they all did agree on a bird. My Precinct Captain sent me to walk this road, hoping I would be able to shoot the winged perpetrator. So far nothing’s happened, but my eyes are wide open to see if the night raptor will come for me.

The victims all named different birds, but crows, hawks, and eagles don’t naturally fly at night. Only owls fly during the night,