MEDICINE

MEDICINE

Roger A. Davis

This is a poem I wrote for my sister, Donita Joyce Helmer, who was recovering from a knee transplant. She lives in Hartdner, Kansas and it was the time of year when we celebrate the Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty. This was a treaty with the Native Americans in the 1800's in this area of Medicine Lodge, Kansas. Every two to three years, there is a reenactment of the treaty and other scenes of those times and our family has had a very active role in this for a long time. My great grandmother, Mayme Holmes Grisby, was the Grand Marshall from the 1950's until she passed on in the 80's. She rode a palomino horse sidesaddle. Also, there was always a gathering of the Native American Indian tribes who participated and set-up their teepees in the park. It was a multi-state event. Well, this forward was needed to explain my yet undiagnosed condition of bipolar before meds. A mind of unchecked originality. Welcome to zaniness.

Poem written 10-3-2000.


MEDICINE LAUGH PEACE TREATY DITTY

Hi, Dawn- Knee-Ta-Joy

Your High-Knee Is Cracked
Your Low-Knee Is Replaced
And Corn-Knee Is Butchered

People Who Kneed People
Are Low Blow Hitters

Shaw-Knee, Cherokee
Where Is Con-Knee Sioux
(Connie Sue Kawolsky is my other sister)

Tee-Pee For Cracked High-Knee
Cracked Ice For Sore Low-Knee
Corn-Knee, A Transplant The Eye-Sore

Hopi Navajo Shawnee Mandan
(translation)
Hope You Never Have A Sore-Knee Again

Sioux-U-Later

Love, Roger

P.S. No offense meant toward THE TRIBES