The Arkansaw traveler. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1882-1???, 1889-02-16
oScEoLA's LAST DREAM.
BY HEzEkIAH BurrERN ORTIZ.

Set the windows open aud cool my veins,
For the fever of death Il now begun.
Aud hot on NY hands and feet are chains.
And the ocean pants In the low red sun.
In the Euchee Anna the ibis tonight
Drifts down on the wreck of the dead canoe,
Aud the Cherokee roses with hearts of white
Lie thick aS the stars IN the seas ot dew.
And the misty moon looks over the
ON the cypress covers Of Zones and graves.
ask but a hreath-Nha' left Ia me
In this treeless prison by hot TShee"
Listen Ia OSceoa:
only the rain crow that cries IN the fen.
only the fur In the werewolfs den,
only the bones where the hawk has been,
But pity not oSccola
q Floridas far. so near We seem
breathe the breath ot Your orange groves.
The lives OF the warriors form dreams.
And my bride. the Beautiful. with me royeS.
The fans of the palms aS In years OF old,
Wave cooling me now in these SplendorS of dreams
And dance by the tirefiy'S taperS of gold.
My white canoes IN the ripping streams.
And the trade winds blow my plume~ Of white,
And the shores are filled with The mconriSe light.
IL is all a dream-what Is left IL me
of the palm-crowned land and the night cooled sea
What Is left to OSeeola?
Only the rain crow that calls IN the fen.
Only the fur IN the wcrewolf'S den.
ONLY the bones where the hawk has been.
But ity not o>eeela.
Az. pity me not these hands are red
A. red a. the iorge> that linked these chains.
Aud the me cifu Fever waves over my head
T.. torch of IN" Tempest. and tlrnb my veins.
My forest bride a. dear me,
Ny heart, too, Was human, and what hcfe?
ASK the lave pen>, red IN the Manatee.
stolen and sod Tor a slave. And whose hand
Was lifted for her in all Your land?
There barred my breast "i my heart bcreft,
To the winged rifle and what II left
What i lett Ia oScen,a"
only the ram crow that calls IN the len,
onN the fur IN the wrrewolfS den.
only the bones where the hawk has been.
Blu pity mol O>ceola
When War, Wild spirit broke In mr
I cursed the land and II sunk from sight.
! called the red pumeS from the Mauatre.
! called from ampa the pumeS oi white.
/ called the Young chiefs from the Everglades
And the oa/N SNaiuIiS of the dark Nahoo.
From the frahered trails III the red woods shades,
And Ne fought Tor our own a hero do.
le bound me- once. hat broke ny bands.
And the captor clelt with these wedged hands.
And " bouna me twice and what remains
But IN nerveleSS arm and IFS load of chains,
What Is left la OsceoIa"
Only the rain crow that calls III the fen,
Only the fur IN the werew0ll,S den
Only the bones where the hawk has been,
But pity not osceola.
Chains What are they now On plumes of light
MN free soul scars Ger the crimson SEA.
e. doves Iehalda W ibi>eS whit
| sweep the clouds like Nour pinions free.
The Cherot go roses. the sunheams flowers,
Like the fallen cups of the gods. Ii sweet,
As in the bliss of those Starii; hours
When my bride lay down AT nv weary feet.
The sunset ladies ia my prison bars.
but the angel Of Right see in the stars
Tel me. What shall await you there"
Listen Ia O>ceola-
only the rain crow that calls IN the fen,
only the fur IN the wercWoli'> den.
ONLY the bones where the hawk has been
fliN not O>ceola.
Ne shall lay my bones where the Teedv winds
In the cool SaNanE abs for me shall sigh.
Where the wondering heron the sea conch fntS,
And the tears of the Gulf clouds ili the shy
Ae shall not bring me your pity there,
Nor add one breath To the sounding deep
Nor mock the heavens With psalm or prayer
For herself alone lei / Justice weep.
Nemay lay my eNlled form in the sod
kui beyond Your reach hang the scales 81 God,
Aud ia the heights of the judgment air
~ may hnd .entence more hard la bear
Than the doom of OSceola-
only the ram that calls in the fen
only the fur IN the werewolf ; den.
only the bones where the hawk has been.
May the God OF the wlthered leaves pIly YOU then