Tears Run Down Her Face

A beautiful young woman
with raven black hair,
in white dress
of tanned skin
sits upon a buffalo,
with eagle perched
on her shoulder.

Throughout the dense forest,
death lurks.
Gone are birds
who sang their songs
to the drumming
of long ago.
Gone,
the sweet fragrance
of flowers.

Within her sight
are fallen trees
cleared for a new
shopping mall.
Jets leave trails of fire
in the sky,
and pain in her heart.

She buries the dead,
then reaches
beyond the leaves,
to broken glass
and plastic wrappers,
styrofoam cups,
and the stench
of garbage.

The creek's black waters
draw her near
to dead fish
upon it's banks
Bottles and tin cans
slow the water's flow.

In the distance,
the sound of a gun,
screams, then sirens,
make her mourn
for the children.
Sorrow and despair
leave her with heavy heart.

Lamenting,
she looks back once more
before retreating to the place
from which she came,
and tears run down her face.