“The Sacred Peace Pipe”

 

by Mary Jane Bayliss

‘Yellow Flower’

Dedicated to my Son, Calum.

A Story in Verse

    ******

There was a Native American boy,

that liked to hunt for game.

He was a great Lakota,

and Calum was his name.

The young boy had a love of life,

which showed in many ways,

particularly with animals,

throughout his wondrous days.

His mind seemed much, much older,

than a boy of only eight,

and he seemed to teach the tribe in ways,

they’d never seen of late.

His gentleness was precious,

and was cherished by all there.

They each in turn would comment,

on his gifts of love and care.

He sat atop a favorite log,

and whittled at a stick,

eventually he finished it,

not too thin, not too thick.

“Oh my! look what I’ve made today,

it’s looking very grand!”

He looked it over, and ’round again,

it moved from hand to hand.

It had a tiny bowl on it,

on one end with a hole.

The most part was a tube of wood,

with patterns from his soul.

“I wonder what they call this thing,

I’m sure it’s not so new.”

So he wandered home to show his Mom,

amongst the teepees’ few.

“Dear Mother, look what I have made,

all on my very own!

It’s made from special golden wood,

and on our land was grown.

I feel it’s very special,

but I’ve not a reason why,

all I know, is that it came,

from voices in the sky.”

 ~

“Ah Calum son,” said Yellow Flower,

“you have talent true,

it makes me feel all warm and safe,

to know it came from you.

You’ve no idea what it is,

which makes it special, more.

It’s what I love about you son,

it’s your ‘knowing’ I adore.

We call this tool a ‘Peacepipe’.

It’s a very sacred thing,

especially if you add to it,

a quill from eagles wing.

It’s used in ceremonies,

by the council men alone,

to bless and honor Great Ones,

that gave this land, our home.

To Mother Earth, Father Sky,

Great Spirit, Grandfather Sun.

It is an honor to honor peace

and love energy, my son.

But why you made this Peacepipe,

is surely but a sign.

You were named upon its honor,

Oh cherished son of mine.

For another name for Peacepipe,

is Calumet, my Dear.

We named you dearest Calum,

for the symbol is so clear.

You’ve created in your honor,

what you stand for in this land,

great peace and love towards all men,

you hold it in your hand.

Go forth my Son and use it,

the council will be wise,

to see a boy as young as you,

with wisdom in his eyes.”

The boy went forth and took it,

to Mopoke, his old Dad,

he showed his Father proudly,

the sacred tool he had.

~

His Father was so proud of him,

he took him by the hand,

“Oh Son, I now believe you’ll live,

to cherish this great land.

You’ve proven yourself old enough,

to watch the council wise,

they will not refuse the love

and wisdom in your eyes”.

And so the Wise Owl took his son,

to the council fire and men.

Young Calum, he was welcomed,

by the council, there and then.

The ten men sat and crossed their legs,

the pipe was shown to all.

They told him he was special,

and he’d heard his sacred call.

Shaman took his pouch out,  *

which held the green tobacco,

it came from a potato plant,

he held it up for show.

The pipe was stacked with crispy leave,

and lit until it glowed.

T’was passed around the council men,

each one, an honor, showed.

The first round of the sacred pipe,

was to bless the Mother Earth,

three puffs from each the council men,

for their sacred land of birth.

The second for Grandfather Sun,

for his holy loving rays,

in which he sent a powerful light,

to all the life and days.

The third one thanked Grandmother Moon,

for caring love at night.

She kept her eyes upon the Earth,

to give us nightly sight.

The fourth was blessing all the Life,

which lived within the land.

Four leggeds and the winged ones,

the Finned and Life from sand.*

~

The fifth time ’round blessed Father Sky,

for the Sun, the Wind and Rain,

for with out these precious elements,

all life would not remain.

The sixth time that the pipe was stacked,

would honor all Mankind,

a sacred blessing to them all,

that a lasting peace would find.

And finally the seventh toke,

was in honor of Great Spirit,

the cherished one that did create,

Universe and all t’was in it.

Young Calum, was so touched by this,

to learn what his name meant.

So honored was he to be named,

after this ornament.

The special sacred pipe he’d made,

was slowly handed back.

He was told to keep it by his side,

in a golden leather sack.

He learned about the sacred one,

that taught them of it’s gain.

She came from light with greatest love,

White Buffalo Calf Woman … was her name.

He left with all the other men,

no longer a silent figure.

He knew the path before him

and he’d walk it full of vigor.

It was his job to spread the word,

of love and lasting peace,

an energy that lingered on,

when harmony would cease.

And in his name it carried on,

throughout five hundred years,

and once again the peaceful pipe,

is spread among its peers.

So send your loving thoughts around

the Earth that is our Mother,

and keep in mind the message found,

by Calum, an Indian brother.

~~~

* (Four leggeds; animals, Winged ones; birds, Finned ;Ocean ‘life’ and ‘life’ from sand; Trees and Flora.)

* (A Shaman is a Native American Medicine man.)

 

 

Copyright MJBayliss