At Junaluska's Grave: (Graham County, N.C., 1986)

At Junaluska's Grave (Graham County, N.C., 1986) The signs led me at right angles Through town and into woods. I followed, though not so well As you the sign in leaf and loam, But I came at last to hilltop, To memorial stone, iron fenced, Heralded by D.A.R. brass-to you And your beloved Nicie and the Daughters Together. Their plaque told me that North Carolina made you citizen In gratitude for your long swim at Horseshoe Bend when you and your braves Sliced the water like Red Horse, Taking the canoes of the Creeks; At once cutting their escape And conveying your warriors to the battle from behind, saving Jackson for mischief later on. It was your victory most said. Did You think so years hence when You sought justice for your people? Old Hickory, not one to store Gratitude looked on beyond you And told the gold-hungry ones, "Light a fire under them; they'll move," Said, "Let the Chief Justice enforce His opinions," said "Good Indians Are dead Indians," said little to you. Your comment-does it not yet Ramble your soul?-was "If I had known that Jackson was Going to drive us from our homes, I would have killed him that day At Horseshoe." But you did not know, You who remembered favors granted, that You and your enemies alike would be Surplus, rounded up like cattle, Shipped out, not by the Old Man in His time, but by his kind later on. 0,> jr* X/ ;>" / /'/