Long before
civilization crushed
the free spirit
underfoot
Native Americans danced
the sundance
In balance
the land and the people

They knew
instinctively
Without red
there would be no purple
or orange
blossoms
Without blue
no purple
or green
leaves
Without yellow
no orange blossoms
or green leaves
at all

Long after
civilization weeps
in the dark
for its dying children
The people everywhere
hear the call to dance again
the sundance
To balance again
the earth and its people

For they know again
instinctively
Without red
there will be no purple
or orange
blossoms
Without blue
no purple
or green
leaves
Without yellow
no orange blossoms
or green leaves
at all

Part One, written 8/31/92; Part Two, written 8/31/94 © Murray Archibald