SYLLABIC TONGUES
(An Indian-ish poem for peace)
Airy words cultivated in England
hyphenated here by tribes of nomads
wrapped in shawls and feathers to mark their band
faith in Spirit, Earth, and tribal comrades.
Ancient pictographs and hieroglyphics
in a labyrinth of caves and sheltered homes.
Ancient races born in age of mystics
plead with those in love with cynical tomes.
Words roll off tongues foreign to tribal ears
using phonetics to mock King's English.
Halting, guttural, turns anger to sneers
nothing left for peace but ancient Yiddish.
Great white father; Shaman Mez-uz-hah talks
face-to-face, hats on, tent is the Yesh-iv-a
U.S. Army versus tribe of Sch-mo-hawks
President Grant and Chief Sitting Shi-va.
Two states side-by-side, in peace and secure.
Sound familiar? Hurrah for Yom-Kippur!
Herb Siegel
Long Beach, NY
American Red Cross
