Can’t Bleed No More *updated

You took my hand

You took my mate

I was used by all

Now just full of hate

Won’t bleed no more

Can’t bleed no more

I bleed for me

I bleed for my

 

I can not cry

No outside tears

I look away

While you destroy

I bleed for my

I bleed for me

I bleed for my

I bleed no more

 

You can not take

From me no more

You tore and rent

My soul is gone

I bleed for my

I bleed for my

I bleed for me

I bleed no more

 

Ground into the dark dirt

Ground into the mud

Ground down by the boot heels

Ground down in blood

 

Ground into the nothing

Ground into the sky

Ground down by the awful cries

Ground down in blood

 

You took my hand

You took my mate

I was used by all

Now just full of hate

Won’t bleed no more

Can’t bleed no more

Can’t bleed no more

Can’t bleed no more

 **************************************************************

“Female Indian” (2006)    Artist: Sam Durant (c)

I did not expect the amount of commentary (on here and private conversations) that I have received on this poem/song lyrics.

Yes, song lyrics. While I was writing this, I heard EmmyLou Harris in my head singing this, her particular phrasing and voice was a part of this creation, so Thank You EmmyLou.

For those interested in how I create, I saw this work of art at The Bronx Museum.  I was going to be performing there, and I knew one of the things they liked was for the storyteller to find a piece of artwork that spoke to them, to tell in front of. I kept being drawn back to “Femail Indian” but had no story to tell…at the time.

I had this for awhile now. The poem just came to me really late at night when I was thinking about the piece: the look she has, the missing hand, the abused nature of her arms, the naked torso. I wrote from the picture, trying to capture the feel of what I do know of the plight of Native Americans, and how I feel about it. Every artist leaves something of himself or herself in the work they create.