Motivation

When Big Chief Bigfoot made his way
to Wounded Knee one autumn day,
he spoke to Sioux amid field mice
to motivate them with advice.

From tepees of the Sioux domain,
they came to hear the Chief explain.
The warriors (combatant folk),
sat riveted as Bigfoot spoke.

With red paint smeared across his face,
the Chief spoke loud and with due haste.
Though old, he had a lot of pull--
this nephew of Chief Sitting Bull.

Intrigued, the warriors paid heed
to words so sharp they made one bleed.
He spoke of truth and what to do;
the civil rights of all the Sioux

His voice was low yet power packed;
he told them how they ought to act.
Referred to Custer as the foe
of Cheyenne and Arapaho.

His final words at Wounded Knee
expressed a sense of urgency:
“Before you hold the white flag high,
  prepare to fight, resolve to die!”


24 Lines (Rhythm: 8)
Writer’s Cramp
10-11-15

________

Requirements:
--Big Chief Bigfoot
--Wounded Knee
--Custer
--white flag