goldfinches chatter
of magical star
seeds to come
and of downy snowflakes
falling on green,
green grass
a golden chandelier
flutters
an autumn aria
ballads of birdsong
tell of stars escaping
bare branches in winter
seasons of wisdom,
centuries of spirit prayers,
bridge to heaven
shining light
on my journey
all along
make fast towards dusk,
to the cottonwood tree
as Whitman urged
speak my Lakota prayer—
release your stars
and give me hope
The cottonwood tree holds five-pointed stars in its branches and is a symbol of hope and connection to ancestors for the Lakota tribe.
