“Civilization has been thrust upon me… and it has not added one whit to my love for truth, honesty, and generosity”. – Luther Standing Bear
“What must we do, has become what must I do?” – DS
And he looks away!
He sees Whiteclay as immortal sometimes, and perhaps it is. A Northern Nebraska indention between the world of his ancestors and the fifth of Wild Turkey he holds in the very palm of his hand. He feels Whiteclay as an empty faced angel scorching the earth in January, alkali and snow mixing, bringing death to the valley grounds. So cold in winter, there’s not a sound, except the sighing of the last breath of the defeated. The indigenous, such a nice progressive word, for the itómni man leaving town. The mist it rises barely, over worn blankets hiding flesh, their bottles around them giving unto them a twenty-second century rest. And for the record Bruce Springsteen you can go home, for your song Nebraska, does not come close to atone. Your culture of murder, and thrills. Nothing is real in these Nebraska hills.
And he looks away!
For a million stars that have fallen from this cold sky. A million spirits that failed to gray and die. Look away, he sometimes hears them say. Born to die, die in Whiteclay. And sometimes late night, when he’s so drunk, his greatest grandfather comes riding bareback on the back of a thirteen-point buck. His eyes are smoking, and his feathers gray and black. He speaks in languages that the old ones hid away. Sounds and syllables from way back. In his tongue there is no variance or broken sound, just a rushing river of the winds from the south. The questions he wonders the ones he should ask, always seem to stick in his mind, as his greatest grandfather looks back. For in the morning when he awakes there is no greatest grandfather, only the empty bottle in Whiteclay, and his headache.
And he looks away!
He sees Whiteclay as a metaphor, for the coming future for the whole damn war. For the differences between what has been and the future apocalypse for agnostic sin. He knows it is a place in a state of mind for the drunken Indian that has lost his mind. But somewhere in the springtime when it is not so cold and bare, sometime when the first grass starts to bare, then if he’s alive, he will start again. To drive north from Whiteclay to where this war began. In the dead of night, he will sing a song, do a little ghost dance till the dead of dawn. And from the point of past of where he might have been, he will look away from demons and try to rise again. And then he will toss the bottle of his greatest sin, and he will look away. Finally, he will look away.
And he looks away! – 01.14.2019 – דָּנִיֵּאל
I ask the question as you do Daniel, how is it I can help, what is it I can do. The story of Whiteclay is a somber and sad one, and you have brought it as you do so often with so many social topics to life. Going to share. ❤ ❤ ❤
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Love your comment Heather. Thank you for it. Thank you also for sharing this. You do what you are comfortable doing, what G_D tells you to do, and that is enough.
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Thank you Daniel. I try to do what GD ask at all times. Your reply to me was an answer in my life right now, to something I have been praying about. So thank you. ❤ ❤ ❤
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Good deal, happy to hear that Heather. 🙂
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I will let you know how everything works out. 😉
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Please do.
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Pingback: Whiteclay — Daniel Swearingen | heatherdevono
A descriptive and barren tale Daniel. The alcoholism rate among our native peoples is horrendous. Thank you for shedding light on this tremendous dark mark on our society.
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Hi Lynette, thank you for your comment. I couldn’t agree with you more. The toll is far to much on those who have had so much culturally taken from them.
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Speaking as a native person I also think the role of personal responsibility plays a role as well. That of course should be a part of any cultural heritage.
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I couldn’t agree more Lynette. Thank you for adding that valuable part. 🙂
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Darkly written Daniel, and well done. Springsteen would be proud. 😉
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Thank you Brian, and I saw what you did there, and yes I am a Springsteen fan too. 😉
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Having driven through Whiteclay once upon a time, I can assure anyone your descriptive sad tale here is point on. Well written as always Daniel. ❤
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Thank you Delilah,growing up near an Indian reservation, I often witnessed as a child the tragedy first hand. It is a sad one. Thank you for your comment.
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YW, wishing you a wonderful day. 🙂
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Dear Daniel, Once again you make me go beyond my boundaries and look at the worlds I never knew. Thank you. ❤ Ruby
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Hi Ruby, I think going beyond boundaries is a great thing, and I commend you for it. Those worlds you never knew can be great places. Thank you my friend for your comment. 🙂
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A wonderful thing to say Daniel. Thank you for the encouragement.
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To be sure Daniel it was like listening to an older Springsteen song, but I get your sentiment. I just had to throw that in as a “Springsteen” fan. 😉 The hopelessness came through very well in your sweeping descriptions. Well done. ❤
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Thank you Abigail, okay I knew I would get some flak on the Springsteen line, still. 😉 Aside I still thank you for your wonderful comment, and your continual reading of my work.
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🙂 Your welcome!
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Another great one mate. O saw it on line the other day and went to read it and then it wasn’t there. WP playing tricks I suppose, but it is here now, and is well worth the read.
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Hi Shaun. Thanks for your comment. It was probably me on the WP issue. I am always posting to fast, making edits and reposting. Trying to do it less. 😉 Happy you liked this.
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You have a rare talent mate, always enjoy your words.
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Great prose Daniel. The following line has a depth that I am still reeling from. “He sees Whiteclay as a metaphor, for the coming future for the whole damn war. For the differences between what has been and the future apocalypse for agnostic sin. “
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Thank you Scott for your comment. I am always happy when someone points out a line I wrote to me that leaves me wondering what the heck I was thinking. 😉
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Hi Daniel, I am that way at times, looking at things I have made notes on and not remembering what it was I was supposed to do. Cheers, Scott
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Your choice of music for this post was a great choice. I listened to it over and over again as I read your words. I kept reading “For a million stars that have fallen from this cold sky. A million spirits that failed to gray and die.” I am still hearing the song and thinking about the words I read.
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Hi Albina, Thank you for your comment. I just recently discovered Larkin Poe, and love the sound they put out. I am also thrilled you found words that you identified with in this piece. Thanks again.
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I admire the way you are able to find just the right music to go with your writing. Often and in this case the music fits so well it is as if it was intended for just your words.
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A saddened affair that has taken place within and around the Indian reservations concerning alcohol. Thank you for bringing this social blight to all of our attention in the way you do so well Daniel.
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Thank you Wang. As I mentioned to someone else I grew up near a reservation and the devastation brought on by alcohol abuse to the natives has always been a picture in my soul I cannot forget. Traditional rehab programs usually are not the answer. It is a spiritual matter.
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Daniel, I have heard this before. Myself I am a firm believer in spiritual therapies being used for any issue one faces. 🙂
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The quote from Luther Standing Bear followed up by your excellent commentary gives one who has a comfortable life, some uncomfortable feelings.. Perhaps that is a good thing.
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Thank you Qwen, for a wonderful comment. I agree with you sometimes being uncomfortable can be a good thing as long as it leads us to action.
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Your welcome Daniel, as long as being uncomfortable is temporary. 😉
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Dear Daniel,
This piece touched me in a personal way. I am half Lakota, and although my life has been very blessed growing up far from my homeland, I have visited the very area you have written so well about. Your description and your character is full of reality. Thank you for writing this.
❤ lauren
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Hi Lauren, Thank you for sharing your wonderful comment. I am humbled by your compliment. The Lakota are a very special people.
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Brother, the tone and subject matter of this piece touched my heart. You have often brought your inner voice to subject matters that are of a personal matter. This one touches us all. Shalom, Den
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Hi brother, I am thankful this piece touched you, and I agree that certain issues in our community of man and woman touches us all. Hope all is going well your way. Shalom, Daniel
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We are all connected my brother. All is well with me, wishing and praying for the same with you and your wonderful family. Shalom, Den
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Very touching and sad post Daniel. Well written. ❤
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Thank you Erin for your kind comment. I always appreciate hearing from you.
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I enjoy reading your material Daniel. You never fail to surprise and delight. ❤
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“He speaks in languages that the old ones hid away. Sounds and syllables from way back. In his tongue there is no variance or broken sound, just a rushing river of the winds from the south” genius at work, loved this phrase.
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Thank you Petra for your comment. I am happy you liked this piece, I am humbled by your quoting my words.
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Daniel, your piece reminded me of the book, “Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee”. A great piece that made me aware. Thank you. Bill
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Thank you Bill for bringing up Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. I am honored this piece brought that to your mind. Hope all is going well my friend.
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Everything is going well with me, but many thanks for inquiring. Your last piece inspired me to re-read “Bury My heart”. 😉
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Loved the quotes, prose and song. Great put together package of a post. 😉
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Thank you Itsa, I am happy you enjoyed the quotes, post and song. Thank you for commenting.
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Always a pleasure, I enjoy your writing. 🙂
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Tragic, heartbreaking. We live in a chemically induced society and we freely induct those we overcome into it. Thank you for a well written post on the issue. ❤
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Thank you Gigi for a wonderful comment. I agree we live in a chemical society. Here in Colorado pot has become the drug of choice to rival alcohol. Very sad.
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😦 Things need to change!
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A sad state of affairs that is happening across the pond with your native peoples Daniel. It is the same here with our general population. 😦
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Thank you for commenting Steve. It is indeed a very sad situation on both sides of the pond. Hoping all is going well with you my friend.
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Things are busy here, working on a new project, writing wise that I might to grab your ear on soon, to get your thoughts. 😉
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Well written!
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Thank you Danny, I appreciate you reading and commenting.
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Daniel this sad and truthful post brings light to an issue that so many in all tribes face. Alcoholism is a national tragedy for so many of us. Thank you for writing this. ❤
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Hi Raquel, as always thank you for reading and your kind comment. I agree we are all touched in one way or another by alcoholism. The native peoples seem to have more than their share.
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So true. Growing up in Winslow it was commonplace to see many drunks at all times of the day asleep outside of businesses my family would frequent. Very sad.
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Thank you for writing this.
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Thank you very much Sarah. Welcome to my blog.
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