Kiowa Song

Kiowa Song

I was taught to hold my tongue,
not show my emotions.
My wife is a Queen
to treasure and protect,
at all cost to keep happy.
Shower her with love and gifts
no matter what it is.
Sorry sweetheart that’s a Kiowa man
Now let me say this….
When your man asks what you like,
you’re supposed to say what you like.
It is an insult to him when you don’t.
Its part of the taking care,
making her happy.
Part of the relationship.
The husband agreement.

I will never fall away from you.
I will love you until I die.
You will be what I see and think of when I take my last breath.

I saw you in a dream,
I did not touch you.
I felt your heartbeat and we were one.
You are what makes me live.
My heart, the blood that flows through my veins,
the air I breathe.
You are so beautiful.

That’s what I am going to say now….
I promise to cherish and worship you first.
Then I will love you forever ever and ever and ever
until infinity stops. Infinity doesn’t stop.
That’s going to be my love for you.

© 2013 Melissa Fry Beasley, All Rights Reserved

This is most closely a translation from the original. It is also a compilation from personal letters.

___________________________

Tomorrow
(an Osage song)

I will forget
The sound of your voice
As you read to me,
The tightness and the way it catches
When you laugh hard.
That thick slur on your tongue when you drink,
Telling me you will love me forever.
Making me tell you again and again
That I am your wife.
That I would have your babies.

I cut my hair off in mourning.

© 2013 Melissa Fry Beasley, All Rights Reserved

4 Pieces

My brother Jonah Lee Brown – Missing you so much baby boy!

The Magill Review has 4 pieces of mine here. Thank you to Josh Magill.
*Please be sure to like it on their page as well as mine here, thank you!

Also found out Stepping Stones Magazine had ‘Knowing Silence More Than Love’ here.

Red Corn Songs

Isabel has once again graciously included me in Yareah Magazine!! Please feel free to check out my poems here. They are from ‘Red Corn Songs’.

I also found out my ‘Song For Yancey Red Corn’ made it all the way over here, to the Native American Encyclopedia! It is really making it’s rounds. It was in Indian Country Today, Native News Today, FirstPeople. lol I don’t know if it is spring and everyone likes a good love poem, or if it is something about an Osage man? Interesting nonetheless. My Grandmother used to tell us when we were little and coming up, to never let your love open with the Spring flowers. I assume because it might droop and fall just as quickly. What do you think?