GHOST DANCER


When I first returned

Some seventy years ago

I had such high hopes

It would be better

This time


But it hasn't been

There is still too much fear

Too much anger

And the world is

Still drowning in lies

Certainly not enough love


At first terrified

To be back

I fled this world of the Whiteman

As soon as I could

For the aloneness

Of the high mountains again.


Until I remembered one day

Sitting under that Juniper tree

Remembered I had returned

For a reason, with a purpose

Why else would I come here again?


I came because

All those on the other side

Of the ghost dance

All those

Who couldn't

Or wouldn't

Come back

Gave me their love

To carry back

In my heart

To return

To this side

Of the dance


Now I'm remembering

My purpose in returning

I'm here to share

All this love

That was given me

I'm here to turn

All this world's pain

Into love


I'm here

To carry everyone

Back with me

Back to the other side

Of the dance


When I first returned

Carrying all that love

Of all those

Who couldn't

Or wouldn't

Return

I had forgotten

All the pain

That had led us

To the dance

I had forgotten

All the lost hopes

All the shattered dreams

All the heartbreaks

And the many bitter memories

I know only that

I was sent back

With all this love

To make a difference


Being here

It all comes back

All the pain

All the losses

All the heartbreaks

And the bitter memories

And I have to

Turn it all into love


It's hard to love though

When it's filtered

Through me

There's so much fear

So much anger

So many lies

Just being me


I'm learning

I have to die to love

I learning

I have let go

Of knowing who I am

And what I what


I have to

Surrender to my purpose

I have to

Let myself be lost

But not caring that I'm lost

Just following my heart

Overflowing with love


Eugene Marks