Tsali was the Cherokee Jesus.
White colonels glad to march
a people west, Pontius Pilates
with spotless hands rounded
red families into holding camps
to be disptached on the trail of tears.
So pillaged Tsali’s wife that her tears
ran Tsali’s blood till he cried Jesus
Christ and killed her captor at the camps.
Took his family on a desert march
to the savage hills by erosion rounded.
Beelzebub struck a deal with Pilates.
Hungry Cherokees coerced by Pilates
hunted down Tsali through their tears.
In exchange, freedom; a number rounded
up from thirty silver pieces for Jesus.
Judases formed red posse, went out on the march
for Tsali and his fugitive disciples’ camps.
Word of the bargain reached Tsali’s camps.
Knocked down once, yes, by white devil Pilates,
now red betrayers, no; he began his march
downward to the white chiefs’ court of tears,
turned himself in and cried your Jesus
is a devil who has our sharp red wits rounded;
My people and our peace you have rounded
into westward walking prison camps.
Do not blaspheme our holy Jesus
came shouts from the many Pilates
who, not sated on Tsali’s red tears
had hungry Cherokee humiliators march
Tsali and his apostles on a final march
to a green Carolina field rounded
by pine and weeds watered on tears.
Same red brothers who had smoked his camps
now shot Tsali dead for Pilates
and their shameful, silent Jesus.
Rebels now contained so the march west from camps
started; red feet rounded bends as homeward-riding Pilates
choked back tears and knew Tsali was the Cherokee Jesus.
©1996 BY JEFFREY STANLEY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.