January 23, 1999

Contents:

Vision ...by Malamute@aol.com
Grandfather ...by jrouam@lock-net.com
She Holds The Horses ...by SoulofHawk@aol.com
Lenape Creation ...submitted by greyowl@scsinternet.com
The Awakened Eye ....by VSpen67816@aol.com

I sit alone,
In solitude,
On the hard cement patio in my back yard.
My raised ranch behind me,
My neighbors duplex in front.
A cold chain link fence,
Surrounds the land,
Proclaiming to all this sand as mine.
They tell me this is reality.

The pain of loss,
The loss of love,
The desperation,
The need for money to survive.
They tell me this is reality.

I close my eyes and wish myself away,
To a forest of ancient pines,
Covered by a glittering blanket of still falling snow.
The world swirls around me.
My breath turns to smoke.
The night sky aglow with the light of a wolf's moon,
Highlights all in a shimmering iridescence.

From the shadows of the forest,
From a past we have all forgotten,
Strides into a clearing a long lost brother.
He is of muscle,
Thick gray fur,
Ivory teeth.
And brown eyes that hold all the knowledge lost to man,
Playing deep in thier reflections.
Patience is the Wolf.
He sits at the edge of the woods,
Watching,
Waiting.

Silence is broken by a cackling call,
A shadow of glistening black,
Draws my eye for but a moment,
And he is gone.
In his place,
On a granite rock,
Sits the Raven.
He hops about peering with dark void less eyes,
That penetrate my soul.
He calls to me,
This trickster,
I fall to my knees,
Weeping,
This he says is reality.  

Malamute20@AOL.com  
A.K.A  Jay Seaman 

There was grandfather, his little grandson often came in the evenings to sit at his knee and ask the many questions that children ask. One day the grandson came to his grandfather with a look of anger on his face. Grandfather said, "Come, sit, tell me what has happened today."

The child sat and leaned his chin on his Grandfather's knee. Looking up into the wrinkled, nut-brown face and the kind dark eyes, the child's anger turned to quiet tears. The boy said, "I went to the town today, with my father, to trade the furs he has collected over the past several months. I was happy to go, because father said that since I had helped him with the trapping, I could get something for me. Something that I wanted.

"I was so excited to be in the trading post, I have not been there before. I looked at many things and finally found a metal knife! It was small, but good size for me, so father got it for me."

Here the boy laid his head against his grandfather's knee and became silent. The Grandfather, softly placed his hand on the boys raven hair and said, "And then what happened?".

Without lifting his head, the boy said, "I went outside to wait for father, and to admire my new knife in the sunlight. Some town boys came by and saw me, they got all around me and starting saying bad things. They called me dirty and stupid and said that I should not have such a fine knife.

"The largest of these boys pushed me back and I fell over one of the other boys. I dropped my knife and one of them snatched it up and they all ran away, laughing." Here the boy's anger returned, "I hate them, I hate them all!"

The Grandfather, with eyes that have seen too much, lifted his grandson's face so his eyes looked into the boy's. Grandfather said, "Let me tell you a story. I, too, at times have felt a great hate for those that have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do. But hate wears you down, and does not hurt your enemy. It is like taking poison and wishing your enemy would die. I have struggled with these feelings many times. It is as if there are two wolves inside me, one is white and one is black.

"The White Wolf is good and does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him and does not take offense when no offense was intended. But will only fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way.

"But the Black Wolf is full of anger. The littlest thing will set him into a fit of temper. He fights everyone all the time for no reason. He cannot think because his anger and hate are so great. It is helpless anger, for his anger will change nothing. Sometimes it is hard to live with these two wolves inside me, for both of them try to dominate my spirit."

The boy looked intently into his Grandfather's eyes and asked, "Which one wins, Grandfather?"

The Grandfather smiled and said, "The one I feed."

She holds the horses while he chases dreams
Reaching for rainbows or so it seems
Round the next corner the rainbow's end
She holds the horses, she's his best friend

She holds the horses while he saves the world
Wrestlin' with windmills caught in a whirl
Dragons and demons fall to his pen 
She holds the horses, she's his best friend

She holds the horses, she tends the fire
Makes his bed free from bramble and briar
He braves the battle but never alone
She holds the horses and makes him a home

She holds the horses while he chases dreams
Reaching for rainbows or so it seems
Round the next corner the rainbow's end
She holds the horses, she's his best friend

Copyright 1998 TomCordle 

I have finally made a tape of some of my music for anyone interested in hearing what my songs sound like. Thanks again, Tom~~v~~

...submitted by greyowl@scsinternet.com

According to our Lepa'chik, wise ones; Kunakwat, Lowat, Nuchink...Long, long ago, in the beginning...at first there was only endless space and in this endless space, dwelt Kishelamakank (Kee-shay-lah mi'kank), the Creator. Nothing else existed at this time, as all was silence and there was a great peace.

One time Kishelamakank had a great vision. In this vision He saw the endless space around him filled with stars and he saw the sun, the moon and the earth. On the earth He saw mountains, valleys, lakes, rivers and forests.

He saw the trees, flowers, crops and grasses and the crawling, walking, swimming and flying beings. He saw the birth of things, their growth and death, and other things that apparently lived forever. Then He heard songs, stories, laughs and cries. The Creator touched the wind and the rain, felt love and hate, courage and fear, happiness and sorrow. Then this wonderful vision passed and it was gone.

Kishelamakank, the Creator had seen that which was unknown and he thought deeply upon all that He had seen in His vision. While He thought about it, He came to understand that this vision would come to be. When nothing but empty space was around Him, His mind saw nothing and so nothing was created, but with the thought of the vision in His mind, things began to happen.

First He created the Keepers of Creation which were four powerful Spirit Beings to help him in His task of fulfilling and creating His vision. These were the Spirits of Rock, Fire, Wind and Water. Into each of these He breathed life and Spirit and then gave each a different characteristics and power.

These Spirit Beings were named: Muxumsa Lowane'wank, our Grandfather in the North; Muxumsa Wapane'wank, our Grandfather in the East; Huma Shawane'wank, our Grandmother in the South, and Muxumsa Wunchene'wank, our Grandfather in the West.

Creator instructed these Spirit Beings to come together on the earth and give of their powers together to create life. Nux Kishux (Nookh Kee-shookh), our Father Sun, gave heat and light, and Nipahu-ma (Nee-pah-hoo'mah), our Grandmother Moon came down to earth and gave of her powers of fertility and reproduction. Kukna (Kook-nay), the Mother Earth, upon which life was to be born, gave of herself growth and healing.

Muxumsa Lowane'wank, Grandfather of the North, gave form to all life. Muxumsa Wapane'wank, Grandfather of the East, gave the breath of life and spirit. Huma Shawane'wank, Grandmother of the South, provided inner fire and spirit, and Muxumsa Wunchene'wank, Grandfather of the West, gave of his water of life, the life's blood.

First made were the plant beings of four kinds, grasses, flowering plants, trees, and crops. To each was given, through Spirit, life, growth, healing and beauty. Each was then placed where it would be most useful and give the greatest harmony and balance to all of the land and all of the life.

Then they made the animal beings. Each of these was given special powers and characteristics. There were some that crawled and walked upon the Earth, there were those that swam in the lakes, rivers and streams upon the Earth, and then there were those that flew in the skies above.

Nipahu'ma, our Grandmother Moon, having been set in the night sky, her Spirit became lonely and so she asked Creator for a companion. The Creator sent her a companion, Muxumsa Pethakowe (Moo-khom-fthah), a Spirit known as Grandfather Thunder, to keep her company. With Muxumsa Pethakowe she conceived, and when she came to lend her powers of fertility to the Earth to help in the creation of life, she gave birth upon the Earth two twins - one was a man and the other a woman. Thus it was that humankind was the last of the beings created.

Though they were different, man and woman found a wholeness in union with each other. Only together were they complete and fulfilled, only together could they fulfill their purpose. The Creator gave man and woman a special gift, the power to dream dreams.

Nipahuma, our Grandmother who goes by night, the first Mother, the mother of all mothers, nurtured her children, and then when her purpose was complete, she returned back to the Spirit World. But before she left, she told first man and first woman that she would never forget them. To this day, she continues to watch over us at night as the Grandmother Moon. The children promised to remember Grandmother Moon whenever she appeared in the sky, giving her light to guide our paths.

Now, in the vision, the Creator had seen things of opposite natures, and so was created light and darkness, male and female, hot and cold, above and below, good and evil.

Where the Creator created, giving forth goodness and light, Matantu (Ma-tan-tu), a Spirit of destruction, evil and darkness, came into being. Where Creator made edible plants, Matantu made poisonous plants. Where the Creator made the delicious blackberries, Matantu put thorns on them. Matantu also made tormenting insects such as flies, mosquitoes and poisonous snakes.

Many such laws were woven into the creation by Kishelamakank, the Creator, for the well-being, harmony and balance of all things and all creatures. These laws gave place and motion to the sun, moon, earth and stars, and governed the powers of wind, water, fire and rock and the circle of life, birth, growth and death. All things existed and worked through these laws; the Creator's vision was now brought into being.

Now, upon the newly formed Earth, the Creator put a Spirit Being, Kichichax'kal, the Great Toad, who was given the duty of ruling over the waters of the Earth. He was also given the authority and power to cause rain to fall at his will, and was also known as Bikanaki'hat, the Water Keeper.

One day, Maxa'xak, an evil Manito, appeared, who came to bother and quarrel with the Great Toad. This evil Spirit had the form of a vicious and ugly horned serpent. Maxa'xak, the horned serpent, fought with Kichichax'kal, the Great Toad, because he wanted to be the one to rule over the waters of the Earth.

One day they fought such a terrible battle that it caused a great disturbance over the whole new Earth. The Great Toad tried to swallow the evil serpent, but the monster serpent gored the Great Toad so severely that he died. And the four winds, Newakishe'na, the mighty seas, and all the waters of the Earth lashed out in everlasting fury at the evil serpent but all to no avail.

Now Kishelamakank, the Creator of all things, saw the struggle, the turmoil, the steadily growing unrest, and He sent the Thunder Spirit to battle the horned serpent, Maxa'xak.

Grandfather thunder came swiftly, announcing his arrival by the sound of his bone rattles, and shooting his lightning arrows, forcing the evil serpent to flee. The rain fell, the waters rose and gushed forth everywhere, washing away the corruption and evil that had covered the blood-stained Earth. The rising waters caused widespread destruction upon the Earth, which became one great sea. Many plants and animals died, and all of humankind perished due to the destruction wrought by the evil serpent.

Now, Maxa'xak and his children stayed put in the watery depths, fearing the Thunderers who pursued them when they dared to venture forth, shooting their lightning arrows at the evil serpents. (So my children, never fear when it thunders and lightnings, as it is just the Thunderers shooting their lightning arrows at the evil serpent who appeared some place, and there is nothing to fear.)

At this time, there was another Spirit Being also on the Earth, the Wise and Gifted Being called Nanapush, the Strong Pure One, the Grandfather of Beings and men. When he saw the rapidly rising water, he sought refuge on the highest mountain, hoping that there he would be safe. But the rain fell and fell, and the waters continued to rise, until at last there was only left a small patch of ground on top of the highest mountain. And upon the top of the mountain, there was growing a small cedar tree.

The rain continued, coming down in torrents for many days. It was now apparent that all of the seven islands, and the mountains, would soon be entirely covered with water. So the great and wise Nanapush picked up the animals and birds that had gathered on the mountain top, and he tucked them carefully and safely inside his shirt. Then he went to the cedar tree, and spoke to it before he started to climb it. As he climbed he broke off branches and put them under his belt.

Soon he reached the top of the tree, but the waters continued to rise and rise, now almost to his feet. So the great Nanapush began to sing and beat on his bow-string which served as a drum. As he sang, the cedar tree, the sacred tree, began to grow and grow, and it kept on growing as the water continued to rise.

After a long time, Nanapush the Strong Pure One, the Grandfather of Beings and men, grew tired of singing his song of peace to the raging elements, so he threw upon the waters the branches which he had plucked as he climbed. At once they took the form of a strong raft. On this raft, he carefully placed all of the creatures he had saved and they floated upon the waters on the cedar raft. Soon he saw all the mountain peaks disappear under the steadily rising water; only Nanapush and the creatures he had saved remained alive.

After some time, Nanapush decided a new Earth should be made, a task he could well perform through the powers granted to him by the Creator. So he held a council with the little creatures and they went to work to help him form a new island.

Their first duty would be to get some soil from the submerged Earth. The first one to offer his help was Mitewile'un, the Loon. He dived and stayed down a very long time. When he came floating back up to the surface, he was dead. So the great Nanapush breathed upon the unfortunate Loon, and its life was restored.

Now Kuna'moxk, the Otter also dived down, but he failed in the attempt and also came up dead and needed Nanapush to restore him to life.

Then Tamakwa, (Ta-ma-qua), the Beaver tried, but he in turn failed and had to be revived.

Then Nanapush turned to Tamask'was, the muskrat, and told him that he must try very hard to reach the old Earth. The little muskrat stayed down twice as long as any of the rest and he came to the surface completely exhausted, but still alive. And in his mouth and paws he carried some of the precious mud from the old Earth below the waters. The Great Nanapush was pleased, and he carefully revived the little Muskrat and blessed him, promising him that his kind would never die out.

Now Nanapush made a great ceremony, a thanksgiving ceremony, the first thanksgiving ceremony ever to take place. Then Nanapush called for a helper who would receive and carry the new Earth. Taxkwax the Turtle responded and was at once chosen to perform this important duty.

Nanapush placed the mud brought back by Tamask'was the Muskrat upon the back of the Turtle and blew his life giving breath into it. Immediately it began to grow; it grew and grew until it became a great island where all of us are living today.

Because Turtle carried the new Earth on his back, this is why this land upon which we live is called Taxkwax Mena'te, Turtle Island, and Amankitaxkwawikan'ank, the Place of the Great Turtle's Back.

For his help, Taxkwax the Turtle became a messenger of thoughts and feelings between different beings; a symbol of thought given and received, representing communications between all things.

After some time had passed, Nanapush sent Tame, the Wolf, to see how large the new Earth had grown. The first time Wolf went on his journey he was gone for one day. The second time he went he was gone five days; the next, ten days; then one moon; next, one year; then five years; then again, for twelve years.

The next time he went he never returned, but became lost on the great wide Earth and died of old age. This is why today, at every full moon, the wolves sit in the forest howling, in remembrance of the great misfortune suffered by their ancestor long ago.

When Tame, the Wolf, failed to return, Nanapush, the Strong Pure One, the Grandfather of Beings and Men, decided that the new Earth was now large enough, so he commanded it to stop growing.

As the waters subsided, the animal beings brought grasses, flowers, trees, and food-bearing plants to Nanapush. Into each he breathed life and restored them on their island home.

Then the Earth was dry, and good to look upon. Indeed, it was very beautiful and there grew a pale and lovely tree from the Mother Earth, and the root of this new tree sent forth a sprout beside it. After a time there grew upon it a man, the first on the new Earth. This man was there alone, and may have remained there alone forever, but the shimmering tree bent over to kiss the Mother Earth. Where the tree had touched the Earth, there appeared another sprout, and there grew the first woman of the new Earth.

The Wise Ones tell us that from those two beings, that man and woman, came our Lenape'wak, the Lenape People, owing our origin and faithfulness to the shimmering tree and the good Mother Earth.

Now on the new Earth, first man and first woman were nourished by food and drink brought by the animals, our Elder Brothers. The birds brought song and dance, the butterflies and bees amusement. All the animal beings served in some way except Maka'na, the Dog. Being less gifted than other animals, he had nothing to offer, but felt he must give something. So, the dog pledged his love, and lay down beside where first man and first woman were sleeping. From that day on the dog has remained by the side of humankind.

The first winter was a difficult one for those first Lenape. The weather was very bad and the animals found food hard to find for them, so, Maxkwe, the Bear, fearing their death, offered of himself that they might live. With Bear's flesh, they survived, and thereafter the other animals gave of themselves, their lives, to feed human beings.

In gratitude and honor of the sacrifice of Bear, our Ancestors held special ceremonies of thanksgiving for the gift of life from Bear and other animals. We survive and have life because of the deaths of our Elder Brothers.

....by VSpen67816@aol.com

Some look at the world beyond the skin and see just a world. 
Others look at it and see in it storm clouds and rain,
suspicious and hostile forces bound to harm -- sooner or later.
And there are those who see nothing at all of the world 
but who see only pictures from the mind: 
Each thing seen is covered up with the darkness of the past, 
with vain remembrances of lost and dying dreams
and tortured hopes of future happenings 
too nebulous and ill-defined to ease the restless moment. 

When I look at the world I see countless miracles 
of endless, changing color and shape, 
of movement and stillness. 
I see the dignity of life ignored. 

A lone tree with no leaves stands naked and bold in the Autumn wind
against the pensive gray of rolling, sunlit clouds. 
A small chipmunk running through a shadowy stream
making tiny splashing sounds, 
then stopping at the edge of leaning grass
and looking around at giant trees and all things great; 
fully immersed in the nature of its endless, moving world. 

An old, rusted car hidden in the brush,
an odd mix of thing and life,
of metal and grass, 
of life reclaimed by nature's children, 
an easy home for life's small, restless wanderers. 
A once well travelled path now hidden by weeds
and traversed only by comic squirrels
darting back and forth across its width,
playing some game known only to the
beauty of small, unfettered minds. 

Two lovers barely seen 
amidst the curtained branches of an old Willow tree. 
Wrapped in each other's love and seeing nothing else, 
they hear powerful quiet sounds and melodies 
heated by the movements of embrace. 
Eyes closed, the touch is felt more deeply and more broadly 
than the outward hand can reach. 
The kiss is laced with the sweetness of surprised feelings 
suddenly unleashed in the spiraling colors of innocent discovery. 

An old man and woman holding hands on the front porch. 
Years and years of love, made quiet in the security of it's power. 
The old plaid shirt and the purple shawl slightly touching 
while they sway gently back and forth on the hanging swing. 
A soft, barely audible tune escapes her lips; 
perhaps a favorite melody of days gone by when first they met. 
Their beauty is complete, their unity unshakable, 
their love woven carefully, like fine silk spun from the loom 
of patient living and caring, of shared tears and nights of laughter 
round the fire while snow flakes fell on bending trees. 

There was a time when my eyes were shut tight
and my ears were deaf to the beauty of life, 
with only clues and hints of something real. 
Confused was I, like a great city highway of winding,
twisting thoughts going nowhere. 
And one day I beheld a blue bird singing from a window sill. 
I listened as he sang some unplanned melody. 
So full of life was his song that I too began too sing. 
And I sang, and sang without rhyme or reason, without one care. 
And in the midst of that song all lesser things vanished. 
And their was calm.
And there was peace.
I found my voice.
For I too am a song of life as all else is. 

When we can listen to the song that is singing us, 
we can hear the music of the entire world. 
We can hear reality without the echoes from the past. 
We can see reality without the ruse of old and battered  imaginings. 
Then we can enter the beauty of life 
as one who enters his own home. 
And we can rest in it, and feel safe in it. 
And it will heal us and make us whole.

written by VSpen67816@aol.com