After Wounded Knee | Teen Ink
  1. Home
  2. Poetry
  3. Free Verse
  4. After Wounded Knee

After Wounded Knee MAG

March 1, 2009
By Elise Lockwood BRONZE, Carmel, Indiana
More by this author
Elise Lockwood BRONZE, Carmel, Indiana
1 article 0 photos 0 comments
View profile

You still wear that old war paint
(angry lines slashed above your eyes)
I can feel you waiting for the battle to come
(spikes of red staining your cheeks)
There are no pawing horses now
No painted hands on their haunches
(the number of warrior souls you stole)
No noonday sun beating on bare backs
No smell of sweat and leather and bravery
Puncturing the familiar woodsmoke
(breastplates of porcupine quills, feathers in hair)
No ululations of war, yelling at fear
No singing, no dancing, no tribes, no homes
(scars left from the struggle free from the sun)
Just a drum drum drum beat
(a piece of flesh left for the Great Spirit)
Piercing through dreams.

© Olivia E., Alto, MI

The author's comments:
This was inspired by the Battle at Wounded Knee in 1890, a massacre of the Sioux.
Post a comment
Submit your own

Similar Articles

Previous Next
Poetry
Pretentious
By Kimora Braithwaite
Indian Trail, NC
Poetry
Connected
By emolover95 GOLD
Park City, Utah
emolover95 GOLD, Park City, Utah
13 articles 0 photos 25 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."

View profile
Poetry
When this poem felt eternal...
By KICK3593 PLATINUM
Roslyn Heights, New York
KICK3593 PLATINUM, Roslyn Heights, New York
49 articles 0 photos 74 comments
View profile
Poetry
One Piece... One Destiny
By Matt Groy GOLD
Park City, Utah
Matt Groy GOLD, Park City, Utah
11 articles 0 photos 0 comments
View profile
Poetry
unnamed
By Mew13 SILVER
Princeton, New Jersey
Mew13 SILVER, Princeton, New Jersey
5 articles 0 photos 0 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;If there were to be a universal sound depicting peace, I would surly vote for the purr.&quot;<br /> (Barbara L. Diamond)

View profile
Poetry
Nothing good comes from Pyromania
By Nelle PLATINUM
Crewkerne, Other
Nelle PLATINUM, Crewkerne, Other
21 articles 10 photos 49 comments
View profile

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 129 comments.

violeteyes said...
on Sep. 11 2012 at 7:13 pm
So I know you're just trying to get recognition for your poem, but you have just posted the exact same comment on every poem on this site. It's kind of like spam. Just saying. By the way if you didn't bother to read the poems you comment on, you should, they are actually amazing. k bye
Mimi15 PLATINUM said...
on Aug. 20 2012 at 8:07 pm
Mimi15 PLATINUM, Belfast, Maine
49 articles 0 photos 73 comments
View profile
This was so well done. You're a fantastic writer. If you don't mind, I'd love to hear your opinion of my poem Broken Structure. Cheers. :)
InkWriter13 said...
on Jun. 15 2012 at 7:52 pm
WOW! This is so vivid, so clear, so defined, so real, so alive. I LOVE your writing voice, diction, and style. It speaks with such a declaratoy, revealing tone that sets the world into a new perspective. LOVE it! Beautiful and sad, wonderful poem. Would you please read and comment on my poems titled I am the Mother of War? I would really appreciate it! :D
curlygurlray GOLD said...
on May. 2 2012 at 11:51 am
curlygurlray GOLD, Visalia, California
18 articles 1 photo 36 comments

Favorite Quote:
you have the life you let yourself take.

View profile
AMAZING JOB!(:
emilar said...
on May. 2 2012 at 10:25 am
This poem was amazing, I love the flash backs of the experience it parenthesis. The similes and verses were good. Keep writing.
MarieAntoinette2014 DIAMOND said...
on Apr. 10 2012 at 7:23 am
MarieAntoinette2014 DIAMOND, Scottsburg, Indiana
54 articles 2 photos 237 comments

Favorite Quote:
Isn&#039;t it ironic? We ignore the ones who adore us, adore the ones who ignore us, love the ones who hurt us, and hurt the ones that love us.

View profile
That's good. I've learned about that and a little of that flows in my veins.
Bookworm1997 BRONZE said...
on Feb. 4 2012 at 10:55 pm
Bookworm1997 BRONZE, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1 article 0 photos 29 comments

Favorite Quote:
You cannot open a book without learning something. -Confucious

View profile
Great job! I learned about this in school a few months ago.
recurring_resilience SILVER said...
on Jan. 13 2012 at 5:57 pm
recurring_resilience SILVER, Ashburn, Virginia
9 articles 0 photos 92 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;These are the times that try men&#039;s souls.&quot; - Thomas Paine.<br /> <br /> &quot;You don&#039;t understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could&#039;ve been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am.&quot; - On the Water Front<br /> <br /> &quot;This is my place of failure.&quot;

View profile
Sorry I missed the little authors note.
recurring_resilience SILVER said...
on Jan. 13 2012 at 5:54 pm
recurring_resilience SILVER, Ashburn, Virginia
9 articles 0 photos 92 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;These are the times that try men&#039;s souls.&quot; - Thomas Paine.<br /> <br /> &quot;You don&#039;t understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could&#039;ve been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am.&quot; - On the Water Front<br /> <br /> &quot;This is my place of failure.&quot;

View profile
Good poem but misplaced I think. Historically in indian history "Wounded Knee" was a massacre in whicn only ONE baby survived.. Did you intend that?
SophieG. SILVER said...
on Nov. 8 2011 at 3:48 pm
SophieG. SILVER, St. Davids, Pennsylvania
5 articles 0 photos 47 comments
View profile
I loved it, very beautifully written. Please check out my work!!!!
sunny.all.day. GOLD said...
on Aug. 12 2011 at 6:53 pm
sunny.all.day. GOLD, Potomac, Maryland
15 articles 0 photos 69 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.&quot;<br /> &mdash; A.A. Milne (Winnie-the-Pooh)<br /> &quot;writing is a struggle against silence&quot; carlos fuentos<br /> You miss 100% of the shots you don&#039;t take.&quot;

View profile
great job! at first I didn't understand the title, but then after reading the author's comment it made a lot more sense :) 
chrissie_star GOLD said...
on Jul. 21 2011 at 10:08 am
chrissie_star GOLD, Commerce, California
11 articles 0 photos 35 comments

Favorite Quote:
Its just another chapter in the past just turn the page dont close the book.

View profile
 great poem !! do you mind checking out mine? its called "possibilities" tell me what you think :)
ArcaneGhost said...
on Apr. 2 2011 at 10:15 am
ArcaneGhost, Hendersonville, Tennessee
0 articles 0 photos 43 comments
View profile
I haven't.
ArcaneGhost said...
on Apr. 2 2011 at 10:14 am
ArcaneGhost, Hendersonville, Tennessee
0 articles 0 photos 43 comments
View profile
Ha! I usually can't deal with poetry, but I love when things are explained like that in parenthesis. Thumbs up.
IamtheshyStargirl PLATINUM said...
on Mar. 11 2011 at 6:24 pm
IamtheshyStargirl PLATINUM, Lothlorien, Utah
44 articles 16 photos 2206 comments

Favorite Quote:
Boredom instigates extreme creativity. <br /> ~Amoniel<br /> <br /> "Bowing gratefully to all of my subjects, 'thank you. Thank you. The pleasure is mine." Nah, I'm just kidding. We're all kings together.'" <br /> ~Thesilentraven

View profile

Gorgeous. Just gorgeous.

A whisper on the wind from a soul afraid to speak, for fear of shattering the glass of discovered beauty.

KatnissLupin BRONZE said...
on Mar. 11 2011 at 6:10 pm
KatnissLupin BRONZE, Midland, Texas
2 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

View profile
that's the best poem I've read in a while!
jazzy16 BRONZE said...
on Mar. 11 2011 at 2:50 pm
jazzy16 BRONZE, Germantown, Maryland
1 article 1 photo 15 comments
View profile
 definitly agree. most people write about love or death or school but this poem is different and a nice change-up with important references. keep on writing!
l.iney DIAMOND said...
on Mar. 11 2011 at 2:33 pm
l.iney DIAMOND, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
64 articles 0 photos 52 comments

Favorite Quote:
100% of shots not taken won&#039;t go in. -Wayne Gretzky

View profile
This is really good and I love the work you put into it. Your an amazing writer and I would love to have your feedback on some of my pieceson the site! Awesome Poem!
emoticon BRONZE said...
on Feb. 17 2011 at 5:36 pm
emoticon BRONZE, Pasadena, Maryland
1 article 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
Art comes before love.

View profile
I thought it was okay I have seen better
Treckintime SILVER said...
on Jan. 26 2011 at 6:28 pm
Treckintime SILVER, Bradenton, Florida
8 articles 0 photos 10 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Do not let others believe what you can achieve, but achieve what you believe.&quot;

View profile

I really liked this. A lot of people are saying imagery but it's true the imagery is great. Can you please comment on my work?