Running Bear

When life began and I was young
They gave me a name
It seemed I cried no end in sight
So they named me Little Pain

As I grew I learned too
To listen to the old
And my ears burned as I learned
When upon their stories told

As a boy I played with toys
Made of bones and a feathered bow
And I learned the skill to hunt and kill
On every hunt I was allowed to go

As young a man I could understand
The want to be a brave
A mount for me one day would be
But I would have to wait

Then one day while along our way
And hunting for our next meal
I aimed a deer in the forest near
Let loose my arrow with all my skill

My aim was true and I knew too
As deer ran and fell in brush
I unsheathe my blade and followed his way
To do what it was I must

My father grinned as I went in
And I thought all was well
But he burst in laugh when out I ran fast
With a bear right on my tail

As fast as could I ran through woods
The other braves were laughing too
It you survive there from running bear
Said father, a good name for you

Now Running Bear a name that dares
That became my name
And that it stayed until later in life one day
When that too it changed

A new chief to be the tribe looked at me
But said Running Bear that be no
I became Chief for a nation and the hopes of salvation
The day they named me Geronimo.