THE TURTLE

Excerpt from The Way Called Beautiful by Helen Bird 

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THE TURTLE

"Those elders came from over there where the winds are always warm and cool.

How they got here long, long ago is a mystery to this Chaa-Moaakonnish.

It was a time when all life was Gitchi-Manitou.

And all life lived upon the back of this huge turtle.

At that time, the turtle had lots of room, so Gitchi-Manitou told all his red children

to hurry up and make love on turtle's back and be as many as the beautiful stars in the skies up above.

Turtle asked Gitchi-Manitou if he would but have some rest for a spell.

Turtle fell asleep and every once in a while he moves closest to where the waters lap at his side.

Where the warm winds blow cool breezes upon him and when turtle moves in his sleep, the whole of California quakes.

Someday in a time when this Chaa-Moaakmonish treats turtle too harshly, the

turtle will move to a different place.

We, the red man, call this our turtle island for that reason.

We are as fleas on a dog's tail and like fleas, we can fall off for good.

So I move through this life like turtle, slow and careful and when the time comes for Gitchi-Manitou to talk with me, I will only say,

"My beloved Creator, You own everything all over."

And I will ask,

"How did the turtle finally move?"

The answer is easy.

Always treat turtle with respect, like you treat yourself...

Do not be greedy, lustful, hunger for too much.

Just be in a patient way with yourself.

Soon enough there will be that time when you will have many questions to answer.

A time to be strong and do not always look at the other person, for he will not be there to blame you or you to blame him.

So be good to him in this life.

Some of us understand this way, and

“We know why."

                                                 

                                                      'Full Of Life'

                                            ink drawing by Helen Bird 2017