Listen to His Cultural Music
Who Will Tell Our Stories
Silver sage smolders
in a red abalone shell
and the smoke
a sacred native smell
like an arrow
flies into the sun
an offering from
my heart to Creation,
outdoors wrapped in
a fragrant spring wind
my Moreno eyes
find amusing
a hummingbird zooming
above and over
poppies, roses and
almonds blooming,
I should be writing
stories stirring in
my mind begging to
come to their conclusions
but this enchanting
creature holds my eyes
hostage freely on
its ghostly wings,
who will know I was here
and this was taking place
for shadows on the ground
have neither tongues
nor eyes.
~~~
In this. his fourth book and a poetic memoir, Manny Moreno worries--he does not want to have those of our indigenous nations ever be forgotten. For America, it is good that we can meet and come to know the Elders, those who can speak with experience for himself and his people. It is doubtful that I will ever forget Manny in my lifetime. He is constantly sharing his words, sharing his past...Yet, those who have come to know and love him, we will never have enough time with him... I've been with him through much time...and books...he has written... Over 10 years!
http://gabixlerreviews-bookreadersheaven.blogspot.com/2010/08/review-in-writing-tribute-writer-shares.html
Longview Road begins, first, with a display of the photography by Moreno as the book cover. His ability to catch a period in time is caught again and again as an Elder of the Yaqui Indians, again brings us his memories, his family, and the reality of his life through various artistic mediums . Readers will see that his early life was hard--he succumbed to drinking as many of his peers did during those times... But was it liking to drink or liking the escape from what he and others endured... If you pay attention, the indignities of the white man hover over his thoughts as he shares how he fought his way through to become a role model to be recognized and respected for all that he has shared to us through his books...
For instance, he speaks of those working to pick grapes in the intense heat when the crop was ready to go to market...It was bad enough to bend over daily, the sweat running down their backs... but to be humiliated further, the growers refused to provide any type of restroom facilities. These little twists to share the emotional impact are delivered with a punch... And who among us cannot hang our head in shame, knowing that the growers were white owners...
Still, often, such as the poem shared above from his latest book, he takes the time to share his world--God's world, his ancestors' world, stopping just to gaze and admire the flight of a hummingbird, even while he worries...will he be remembered? Will his Yaquai family...and Nation survive and be known? Remembered? Certainly this is a primary goal of Manny's life.
I'm a little older than Manny, but one of his poems was reminiscent for me, as I remember my brother always watching cowboy movies... Manny remembers too, he remembers that the Indians always were played by white people and were always killed. Indeed, even in schools, they were taught that their ancestors were savages and that "their" God would forgive them, even while also teaching that their God had been crucified--much like the Indigenous people? But their elders would say: "Never Forget! Never Be Ashamed."
But then there was at least Tonto...
I listened to grandpa and understood him well
but I never saw Indians in any movie
high-jump that bar to portray them fully human
except for Tonto who wasn't really dumb.
~~~
Drinking, growing up in his home town, working in the hot sun to harvest tomatoes and grapes--and so much more. But the one that was most memorable for me was "The Pain of Forgiving..." I am reminded that, today, in this world, most eyes are turned to Ukraine, seeing the devastation there caused by just one man... Americans are responding in many ways to meet the needs of the affected people... So, why don't we also want to do the same with those here in America who daily worry about where they will find the way to eat, to pay the bills for the small home where they live (or no home, even).
You know, folks, President Biden has created the most diverse Cabinet, I would think, than ever before. He has put together a budget plan to meet the needs of all Americans... yet republicans refuse to participate in making significant financial support across the nation. They would rather not spend research time and effort to actually build a solid platform for the people. Instead, they have chosen to incite parents, in particular, into believing what they are saying... all disinformation which can be proven if each of us makes the concerted effort to be the Americans we are supposed to be... Specifically to recognize our common creed as written in our Constitution...
All Are Created Equal...
Read the Words of an Indigenous Elder
The Pain of Forgiving
Do I forgive the great Mystery
for taking mom and dad
in the prime of their lives
when we needed them most?
Do I forgive the great Mystery
for the manna of prosperity
that never rained on us
for the hand-me-downs
let-me-downs
ridicule and shame?
Do I forgive Mr. Nelson
the hippy wannabe
7th grade teacher
who slammed his bony
knuckles on the top of my head
made me nearly black out
for dozing off in his white
His-story class?
Do I forgive myself
for decades
drinking
doping
car wrecks
emergency rooms
detox - recovery centers
jails,
for the scuffles
in rage and
shame and pain
I brought mother
family and people
I hurt along the way?
Do I forgive the American dream's
invisible
undeniable
borders of hate
bigotry
closed doors
disappointments
cultural trauma?
The pain
of forgiving
Howls
Rains
Flowers
~~~
If we continue to ignore our needs in America,
can we really Call Ourselves Americans?!
Imagine what it feels like to have waited for a president who would work to meet the needs of all Americans...and then see that, because of political issues, your help will not be provided...not again...just like in the past... Why is Congress--the republicans--not approving What Americans Voted for in 2020
Meeting the Needs of America!
Moreno shares about the choice he had to make, ending with, "There was nothing, nada, not a thing, not there for me, I had to find a way out, or rot, and die...
Are we allowing too many issues to be pulled into the spotlight when the needs of our elders, our children are being ignored?
Read Longview Road and other books by Moreno...and learn just how badly we Americans, we white men...and...women... still refuse to acknowledge that they are NOT the only people living (and hurting) in our nation...
~~~
Find Manny on Facebook, Connect With Him...He routinely contributes and shares his history, his words, his drawings...and so much more! All for Sale for this Elder Entrepreneur. Check out my reviews for his four books... You will find a wealth of Indigenous History from this one Elder... Read Him!
Manny recently sent me the last painting above. I had not seen it before and he chose which, of his many available paintings or drawings, that are available for purchase... It is titled "In The Eyes..." I quickly changed it in my mind to "In His Eyes..." I believe this is a self-portrait, empathizing all that he has to tell us... There is pain, endurance, and love of his ancestry...but is there forgiveness? Can we expect him and others to forgive what we did to our "neighbors" as we colonized America? I personally think we should try. There are many indigenous people who have little support, other than what they can scrape together from field word, or with their talent, like Manny has. If you have contributed to the Ukrainians or other foreign countries, such as Africa's cry for children...then, please, please...look at his eyes... Find some way YOU can help...even if it is just committing to writing your republican representatives and say that you want to have them support the Build Back Better bill for support of our elderly all over, no matter what race...and our children...again, no matter what race...
Native Americans value their ancestors as part of their lives... Let us recognize that our ancestors put together a promise, called the Constitution, that said that All Are Created Equal. Let's all try harder to let those in need begin to have the support that our Creed Promised Them! Look at His Eyes... Look at The Eyes...all those who are in pain, hurting, needing some type of support... right... here... in... America!
Elder Care Message - Right Now, many of you may know of an elder person who is in need. Perhaps it's for food, medicines, household tasks...or even just a need to have somebody talk or call them occasionally. Commit yourself to helping the older American... And, if you'd prefer to get involved with our young, then there are orphanages or perhaps neighborhood children that are not getting enough to eat... Perhaps the parent needs a baby sitter...and you're in need of "giving something back..." Think about it, it takes little effort to acknowledge, to commit part of your time to those in need...
Matthew 25:40 New International Version
"The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me...'
These poems really speak to me and my indigenous roots. I appreciate what loving words of truth and authenticity Manny Moreno uses to express himself. I will be purchasing his book! I'm a fan.
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