Begging
for what their past endowed
the Sioux
displaced once more
Imbued
by Wakan Tanka
their legacy
unmoored
They fought
the armed invader
winning battles
losing homes
Giving up
the greatest way
of life
— we’ve ever known
(‘Searching For Crazy Horse’: January, 2011)
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Author:
Kurt Philip Behm (
Offline) - Published: January 18th, 2026 11:42
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 4
- Users favorite of this poem: Tristan Robert Lange
Offline)
Comments2
Legend even more reinforced in that there is no verifiable picture of him known although some claim title none have proof. A lovely write Kurt
Yes, when I wrote 'Searching For Crazy Horse' in 2011, I spent 3 months
(off and on) at Pineridge trying to induce native speakers to share what
they remembered.
There were a few who had grandparents, who were children at the time,
and passed their stories down. Without a written language, white history
prevails. There are still a few 'Winter Counts' that tell the story from the
Lakota side.
This may interest you ...
https://www.astonisher.com/archives/museum/crazy_horse_wintercount.html
Thank you Kurt I have studied Native Americans as extensively as a hobby allows reading what history I could find of over 250 chiefs, warriors from the first landings of Columbus to the story of Ira Hayes and the Navajo Windtalkers. I took particular interest in the Aztecs, Incas and Maya and have studied several South American tribes including the Tupi Guarani and Carijo, Tupinamba. I have a great interest in their myths and pre-Columbian life.
It took over 20 years, but I finally figured out who was whispering in my ear after traveling over 100k miles (by motorcycle) in the Rocky Mountain West. The great Tasunka Witko got inside me and never left. In many ways, his life mirrors the great prophets throughout history. He lived alone, had a forbidden love, gave everything up for his people (followers) and died in his mid-thirties betrayed by one of his own ... sound familiar? He lives inside me.
I honestly can truly respect that Kurt
Kurt, this hits, my friend. The restraint makes the loss feel heavier, not lighter. It reads like history spoken under the breath. A powerful write. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
Thanks, from a book I wrote years ago.
Most welcome, my friend. Glad you shared!
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