[Columbus's ships from Bing dot com. Fair use]
DEAR COLUMBUS C.
I pulled honey from bees to quench your mien.
Yet the wind wails at your cruelty.
Why the mastiff dogs to gorge flesh
Of People of Good, in your lust for gold?
Had you asked i would have just given you
Rivulets and streams of molten splendor.
In the darkness i lit your face by North star.
The sovereigns pulled trust out of vaults
To feed your lies and miscalculations.
You sailed, Master of Oceans, on ego's tide.
Riding wave after wave of human slaughter.
The souls of Tianos, i hold here in Heaven.
No more their blood or tears to complain.
Process Note.
My poem today is inspired by a book I am reading 'COLUMBUS: NOT A CARIB: by SHARLOW' I read about the use of mastiff dogs to punish captives who disobeyed the orders of Columbus, who thought he had sailed to Asia in search of Cipangu were he had read much gold lined the streets and palaces of Kublai Khan. In his book the author refers to the peaceful tianos as 'The people of Good'
Poets United Midweek Motif ~
Darkness Is......
REVISIT
30th January 2017
ENJOY THE MUSIC
Meaning of “Voyage, Voyage” by Desireless
Why? WHY? Why, indeed, especially if he understood the people he met to be "Good/God." Despite the giving and taking, more was demanded and punished. I look hard for what I may have of indigenous European hidden under the cruelty of imperialism!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your appreciation Susan
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They wreaked havoc in North America too. Civilizations of thousands dwindled to hundreds. We are still wreaking havoc, on the whole planet. An illuminating response to the prompt, Gillena!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your appreciation Sherry
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A most insightful poem, Gillena! I love "In the darkness i lit your face by North star."
ReplyDeleteThank you for your appreciation Sanaa
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We are captives of our history, he really wasn't such a nice guy, as we were taught in grade school. Our Karma will find us....a wonderful poem!
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DeleteAnnell
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What a fascinating poem!
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DeleteLisa
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Thank you for your appreciation Robin
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Interesting poem . I would like to read the book.So much history is devoid of inconvenient truth.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your appreciation Rall
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Colonialism is darkness of the worst kind- the subjugation of the human spirit. We have learnt nothing from history as a people.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your appreciation Rajani
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An intriguing poem which shows that the lust for gold is an ongoing problem as it is put above people. Well written
ReplyDeleteThank you for your appreciation Marja
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You speak my heart Gillena. My land would have faced the same fate had it not have a civilization of thousands of years that has a spirit of non-violence. Columbus spirit is still in a sniffing spree for oil in the Middle East & ruining other civilizations.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your appreciation Sumana
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History is a dark past. Sounds interesting though the book you are reading.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your appreciation Khaya
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