CUSTER'S LAST STAND

CUSTER'S LAST STAND  (E) A poem sweeping the reader back in history #1131226 by SHERRI GIBSON

Into the majestic Paha Sapa, the Sioux’ sacred land
Colonel Custer led his murderous band
Hearing rumors that “that thar was gold in them hills”
Oblivious was the Colonel of the blood soon to be spilled

Deadwood was plundered, and lives were taken
The Sioux Indian tribe now felt forsaken
It appeared that the Treaty of 1868 had been signed for naught
That their ancestors had been right, that they should have fought

There could be no peace with these “wasichu” men
The white race had deceived them once again
Bitter and restless the natives became
For the Indians, life would never be the same

No talks of peace could alter the fact
That the greedy “wasichus” had broken their pact
The Sioux rounded up their neighboring friends
The Brule, Ogalala, Minneconjou, and Cheyenne

Soon more tribes joined their illustrious band
Uniting as one force, together they would stand
Yet Custer cared not what the Indians did
Followed murderous commands, he did what was bid

I wonder if he ever questioned why
In the near future so many would die
Did the Colonel realize the price his inflamed ego would cost,
Truly acknowledge the fact that lives would be lost?

I wonder what Custer would have said
If he had but known that in a matter of days he would be dead
Would the cost of Indian land have been worth it then?
Would George Armstrong Custer have been so swift to sin?

Without thought Custer headed for the “Greasy Grass”
Ignoring Indian warnings that he was not to pass
Custer led his men into Indian land
Unaware this was to be “Custer’s Last Stand”

The rest of the tale is sad to behold
For upon the Big Horn the Seventh Cavalry did fold
One by one the “bluecoats” did die
The Indians’ whooping their victory cry

Through fellowship with one another this battle did end
Yet they knew that another was to come again
But for now they had united to retain their sacred land
So marks it in history as “Custer’s Last Stand”