Grand-daughter proud

The following poem has been selected to be read at the VA Festival of the Book Contest)
It was written by my 13 year-old grand-daughter, Natalie March-Long. She will be reading this on March 19th)

Manifest Destiny

I. The land, this green land of life, the land of the Great Spirit, we will protect you and honor you; the buffalo that roam here are free, we take only what we need. This land, of wind and sunshine is ours and everyone’s, for anyone to use. This land we have been blessed with, this land that supports us, the buffalo that feed us, we thank you.
II. It is our destiny, they say, to rip and tear! To move outward from our homes! We own this land, and we will do what we want with it. These animals have no feelings, their only worth is in fur, so what if we kill them? We do not suffer! So what if we force our fellow humans off their land if we benefit! This land is ours, ours alone, and we will do with it what we will.
III. Our homes are destroyed, the land ravaged, our people conquered. These beings cannot be human; they care for nothing and no one but themselves. They hurt the land, the buffalo, all for a thing called money. A worthless material, nothing but yellow stone, something that seems to have no use. They are so strong; they come in huge numbers. We fear that we will not be able to protect the land much longer.

Wow, Abe, she's captured it beautifully.

Thanks Ann.

So much said in so few words at such a young age. Maybe the world of the future still has a chance in the hand's of today's youth.

There is hope, DK. I'm constantly amazed how much depth she has for her age. She is an avid reader. She uses the library and always has books checked-out.

You have reason to be very proud. Congratulations!

3/13/2013
Abe..
That was truthful, touching and from the heart ! She
is an amazing child, I think she gets it from her grandpa.
She maybe the next writer.........Cheers..Joe..

Joe, I think this is something she did on her own. I would like to stake a claim on her abilities, but that would be false. She is gifted like her mother and grandmother.

You are part of her gene pool.

Thanks Alice, I guess there is a small ripple in the pool.

Dear Abe,

You have every right to be proud of your grand-daughter. Many girls her age are basically concerned with the brand of clothing they wear and how popular they are.

Love,

Betty

alice wrote:

You have reason to be very proud. Congratulations!

I agree.