THE HEART OF THE TREE

Her essence dwells upon the land of American's First Nations

Preserving life and heritage for future generations.

Proudly poised, though slightly bent from the pain of giving birth

Blessed by her offspring rooted deeply in the earth

She nurtures roots across the sea on lands she's never known

Acknowledging her birthright though far away from home

The matriarch, steadfast and strong, a testament of right

Her covenant is with the land for which her children fight.

She is deep, she is strong, planted where she belongs

Through the storm she stood her ground.

Through the years and the tears she would not let her fears

Seize her heart or take her down.

She is proud, she is free, for her own she will be

The source of strength to help them stand

Through the drought and the flood

Giving strength through the blood

In the soil of her native land.

She's weathered much adversity, unexpected, yet it came.

In spite of the storms she stood, surviving through the change.

Many fruit have fallen, scores were plucked unwillingly.

Though scattered, most returned to find the heart of the tree.

As I stand beneath the shadow of this tree I love so dear,

With echoes of my ancestors who've walked the Trail of Tears

My spirit knows its sustenance comes not from all the others

But thrives upon the parentage of my Indian grandmother.