Painted Faces of Victory

As the buffalo roams, our native Indian souls still walk the plains

Bestowed to protect their people they used colors from the gifts of the earth, which god of nature provided them

Creatures of the wild were symbols of strength such as snakes, bears, and bear claws

Berries, riverbed clays, plants and tree bark, created paints, using stones to crush and cottonwood balls to blend

Indians painted their faces for honor, for many thousands of years, when I think of this unique talent, it brings me tears

Warriors, tribal citizens, and leaders, symbolizing rituals, dance ceremonies, and battles

They believed the colors to give their souls courage, strength, health and a new beginning

Riding high above the plains, their painted horses charged to victory, then to death

A magical power gave them every last breath

As their painted faces cried out, red was the bloodshed, the war

Blue, was their wisdom and confidence they wore

Green, was for building endurance and to give better vision to their horses as they galloped through the night

Black, marked their victories in fight, and purple, was the mystery and the magic of the power and the might

Yellow, would see that they fought until the end, and the last color painted on the face, white, gave them peace and the strength of the wolf

Painted faces of honor are what our Native American souls represent, not death, defeat or even shame, but a victory in history