Ode To Our Lands

01/16/25: This was one of the first times I actually wrote a post for my own NTT challenge, and it is one I have always been quite proud of. To mark one year of NTT, I am reposting it again today.

Again this week, I am going to take a shot at an image for No Theme Thursday.

Since I ask all of you for your takes on my images, it’s only fair I share mine from time to time as well.

I chose the following image:

Our lands, so open, so free

Harmony

Eagle cry above, buffalo plains

Respectfully

Bones of ancestors with the Earth

Spiritually

Men who came in peace

Duplicity

Whiskey and cheap trinkets

Thievery

A way of life thrust upon

Unwillingly

An area of our own to live

Captivity

Take and take, giving none

Greedily

In our hearts, still we soar

Mightily

One thing you can never take

Dignity

Truthfully, this image invoked a lot of different feelings in me when I created it. The oneness with the land, the freedom of open spaces, but also, a bittersweet reminder of a not always pristine past. It was there pulling at me the entire time I made it.

As much as I try to celebrate the beauty and good in life, we should always remember that in some cases, there is a side that is not so pretty.

I am not Native American, and cannot pretend to know all the struggles they have faced. I am merely an average person sharing an observation and in my own way, trying to show respect to our fellow men and women.

Peace, everybody.

ยฉ2024, The Beginning At Last


Comments

52 responses to “Ode To Our Lands”

  1. Wow, you have covered all the aspects in the image so well in your verse!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Aastha. Sometimes the duality can be so hard to illustrate. It took me a while to find the right words.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. The time invested certainly paid off!๐Ÿ˜Š

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Thank you. I am very glad ๐Ÿ™

        Liked by 1 person

  2. a profound image I thought…and your thoughts to the image equally so…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Destiny. It was a delicate balance to strike.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. well expressed and balanced too…and my pleasure ๐Ÿค

        Liked by 1 person

      2. ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Nice work.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you ๐Ÿ™‚๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Your sentiment of acknowledging your limitations in fully understanding the struggles of others while still showing respect is commendable.

    Humility and Empathy are vital for progression of human society as a whole.

    Sadly, these two characters are lacking in the majority.

    A thought provoking post, Kevin.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you, Mr. Philo. One can never fully understand unless they have walked in another’s shoes, but we can always try to show decency and respect to our fellow humans. ๐Ÿ™

      Like

      1. You’re absolutely right.
        Understanding each other’s experiences completely might be impossible, but showing decency and respect is something we can always strive for.
        Thank you, Kevin.

        Liked by 1 person

  5. I seriously love the image you created with the Native American theme! Itโ€™s one of my favorite pics youโ€™ve made so far!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Melissa. I thought it came out pretty nice too. ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Outstanding. I wasn’t following last year, so I am enjoying the reposts.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you very much, Susan. I’ve always been pretty proud of this one. Glad you are enjoying them!

      Liked by 1 person

  7. My favorite stanza:

    โ€œWhiskey and cheap trinkets

    Thieveryโ€

    I just finished watching American Primevil on Netflix and it reminded me of how brutally repressive the settlers were to the guardians of this land. Your poem captures that aspect well.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you very much, Mr. B. I tried to treat it as respectfully as possible. Hope you have been well, friend. ๐Ÿ™

      Like

  8. Not all who wander are lost Avatar
    Not all who wander are lost

    You did all of this extremely beautifully.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you very much, Sarah. I tried to treat it with as much respect as possible.

      Like

  9. Beautifully done, Kevin! ๐Ÿ‘

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you very much, T. ๐Ÿ™

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You’re most welcome. Enjoy your weekend. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Liked by 1 person

      2. And you as well, T! ๐Ÿ˜Š

        Liked by 1 person

  10. Excellent write, Kevin. Beautifully expressed. โ˜บ๏ธ

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you very much, Nancy. I am rather fond of this piece. ๐Ÿ˜Š

      Liked by 1 person

  11. A lovely poem Kevin that speaks.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you very much, Liz. I am rather partial to this one. ๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿ˜Š

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Wowโ€ฆ so much said with so little. One of the movies that has always stayed with me is โ€œDances with wolvesโ€โ€ฆI feel a deep sense of shame about how the original inhabitants of this land were treatedโ€ฆ your poem captures my thoughts with an economy of words thatโ€™s outstanding ๐Ÿ˜Ž

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Darryl. I tried to be as respectful as I possibly could. I wanted to celebrate the good in life but with a reminder that things are not always pristine and often come at a price. ๐Ÿ™

      Liked by 1 person

  13. This is hard hitting brother.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, my brother. I have always been fairly attached to this piece. I tried to be as respectful as possible.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. It is sorry that the white man had to grab the land in that fashion. Could of made peace.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. There were definitely alternatives. Not our proudest moment, for sure.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Sharon. ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Brilliantly written Kevin ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you very much, Maggie. Always had a slight attachment to this piece. ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™

      Liked by 1 person

      1. My pleasure Kevin.
        It is very well written my friend.
        Have a great weekend.๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™

        Like

  15. This is powerful, Kevin! Happy NTT Day! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you very much Kymber! I was always pretty proud of this one

      Liked by 1 person

  16. So beautifully written and very emotional as well, Kevin โค๏ธ very lovely as always ๐Ÿ˜˜

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Thank you, m’lady. I am extremely glad that you liked it. I really have a soft spot for this one in particular. ๐Ÿ’—

    Liked by 1 person

  18. […] Path You Are The Phoenix My Native Land Not Fade Away – 24th January 2025 Ode To Our Lands Red And Her Imagination Walk Through […]

    Liked by 1 person

  19. It is indeed a very poignant and powerful poem and a great post

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you very much, Thomas. I have always been pretty proud of this one ๐Ÿ™

      Liked by 1 person

  20. I think it’s a lovely tribute to the native Americans Kevin. ๐Ÿ‘

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, KC. I have always been pretty proud of this particular piece. ๐Ÿ˜Š

      Liked by 1 person

      1. ๐Ÿ™‚๐Ÿป

        Liked by 1 person

  21. You have very good reason to be proud of this poem: it is an excellent one!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you very much, Nicole. This one has always kind of stuck with me. ๐Ÿ™

      Liked by 1 person

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