Quanah Parker
You lay out
A photograph
Of great age,
1887 or '88
I don't quite remember,
And ask…Who,
Who is this man?
I can but tell you
What I know,
From my position…
That is an eternity
Away, from where you stand.
I knew this man,
I have worn the paint of war
And proudly fought
By this great chief's side.
I would die for him
So be it…I did.
I remember him,
A large man
Of enormous power.
A warrior of no fear,
A great leader
Of his people.
Much honored,
Greatly revered.
I could write a book
On Quanah Parker,
But why should I?
I would not bore you,
With that you wished
Not to be told.
The history books are full
Of his daring deeds,
His way of life
And his leadership qualities,
For those who are interested.
I tell you,
With no fear of contradiction,
This man was a hero
Even to the end.
He looked after his tribe,
Never let them down
In spite of dire circumstance.
The army!
How they would have wished
To have captured
This most important chief.
Alas! For them,
This warrior knew surely…
That to protect his people
He should surrender.
These were perilous times
For the Comanche's,
The saving of his people's culture,
Preserving their honor,
When all other alternatives,
Had been considered and lost,
Left no other choice…
For survival was more important
Than the fight to the death,
Or defeat by the white man.
Quanah Parker,
Great war chief,
Was a man of great intellect,
And moral and personal integrity.
I sat in the clouds…
Watching him making decisions,
That most would run from.
It made me proud
To have been a Comanche brave,
Under the guidance
Of such a chief as this.
He watched,
Observed the ways
Of the pale skins,
His tribe followed his civil manner,
So in turn they lived,
In many ways…as the white man.
Whilst he became as them,
A cattleman and rancher,
And successfully so.
It is with enthusiasm
I can testify
That he never let go
Of his dignity or pride
Of his Indian identity.
You lay out
A photograph
Of great age,
1887 or '88
I don't quite remember,
And ask…Who,
Who is this man?
And I tell you
It is with honor
I so state...
I knew Quanah Parker.
I rode with him,
Fought with him,
And died for him.
My name is unimportant
I am merely
A life that was,
A spirit
With a story to tell.
Yes! I knew Quanah Parker.
:lol:lol:lol:lol
