A hallowed place
shrouded by the serenity of green
guarded by the forest giants
posted at eternal watch
this island of a thousand dead - 
Bordered by crimson rivers
that flow from the unknown
whirled through steep and jagged canyons
that shadow forgotten memories
of anguished cries and battle calls . . . 

Each new cycle when wild flowers blossom
over cold unknown mounds
the women remember
the woods remember
He remembers -
Bugles piercing the mist of morning air
steeds of frothed lips bearing soldiers blue
cracks of fire-sticks and singing
of desperate sailing arrow -
of wax sealed promises trampled in to mud . . .

Bundled scalps of ravens 
hung from dusty saddles -
Smoke and stench of sulphur rising
to bare breasted skies
revealing crumpled bodies
that bare the marks
of mercy among men . . . 

Names are echoed
in the chants of brothers
of Little Bear and Red Wolf
and the brave warrior Crying Eagle
mourned by the leaping fires
and the dance of the dead . . .

As the embers died
the winds came hard
and the frost came early -
The Great Spirit's tears 
turned to flakes of white
to blanket the injustice 
of blinded men . . . 

And He remembered
and in swept the chill
and in swept the fever
and the bundles crying grew -
Mirrors of the deer skin swaddled children
that cried still from their graves . . .

And the strength waned-
the sap ceased to flow
and mounds grew
from fortressed walls
where all being equal
flowers bloom in spring . . . . .

W.G. Maass 1978

Why is it I am old
And I jump at night?

Why do shadows form
In the corner of my eye?

Why do I watch and wait
For the unknown to become known?

Why is it I must walk
While you sleep and dream?

I used to be a strong hearted boy
I had dreams that never ended –

I was your greatest leader
I was the grandest singer
There was no finer doctor
There was no better man –

How can time be so cruel
As to rob a boy of his dreams?
How can a man be such a fool
As to let his life go unlived?

In the valley of fallen dreams
The sands are of bleached bones
Few have crossed alive
None have left unscathed . . . 

So easy to be swept up
In to the great white clouds –
So easy to lose a special thing
In a world of special things . . . 

Funny how a man goes back
After a dropped jewel or coin
But he will seldom stop
To retrieve a lost precious dream . . .

A man’s small words seem so big
And his big words so small –
His little dreams so large
And his large dreams so little  . . . 

In the dark I must live-
Yearning for lost light -
Now a memory I cherish –
Now a lifetime slipped away . . . . . 

6/80 wgmaass

Down, down, down, my brother –
So cold, so deep, so dark, down
Trickles of the rain seep through
Drip, drip, dripping, spattering across
The old mahogany splintered with time –
Earth so rich the pungent smell tells
Yet covers so quietly the memory below . . . . 

Cry, cry, cry my brother
So lonely, so hollow, so cry –
Granite rock bleeds thy tears
Rivers crimson from mountains gray
Dandelions engulf the roses
Meant to abide in serenity green
Now brambles host the thorns . . . 

Hear, hear, hear, my brother
Angels singing, children weeping, hear –
Enchanted voices from the cloudy river
Stinging still as thou layest dreaming
Blow ye winds of heartless moon
And carry these echoes to yonder mountains
Bring them to a more welcome embrace . . . 

Peace, peace, peace, my brother
Promised, preached, granted, peace –
For you tomorrow to stop the clamber
That rumbles yet above your bed
Calling down for you to listen-
Time will come for all brethren to know
Rest now for you are welcomed weary . . . . 

1976 wgm

Did you hear
My last breath
Last Monday


Did you even 
Know that I 
Was gone? 

When you stopped 
Talking did you
Turn to listen

Did you hear
Did you know
Did you care

I always wanted
To share life
With the living
But the dead
And the gone
Always called

I wanted to
Hold you
 In my arms
And feel
a part of you 

I wanted you
To reach out
And know I cared

But you always
Walked ahead of me and
Never waited for me
To hold your hand 

I understood you
I loved you too
I even cried for you

I laughed with you
I ate with you
I sang along with you

But you never
Knew me nor
Really wanted to
It is just 
The way you are

I think now
When you walk
You simply imagine
I am there

I might just
As well have
Been the wind . . . . 

Wgmaass 6/80

Links to the Maass Gallery