Resenting the knowledge Sequoia yearned
And he said, "Father you're wise
He said, "When I explain then it's done
They weave bad medicine on these talking leaves
Where red and white men lay all around
His father shielding his concern
The white man takes a berry of black and red
The white men's talking leaves"
"From where come leaves like these?"
But so amazed was he
Not leaves like leaves from trees
But he taught all who would believe
So many here had died
That the Indian's thoughts could be written down
And his brother knows what's in his heart
And the marks on the leaves they say
Sequoia's hair by now was white
These are talking leaves, my son
Vanished from his father's face
From where come such snow white leaves
Not even the wise owl could put them there
Snow white leaves upon the ground
He walked at his father's side
With such strange marks upon these squares
The enemies can't hear them
They see these marks and they understand
Sequoia said, "What can this be?"
But he could not forget
Why not the Cherokee?
The wind had scattered around
Till finally he cut into stone
Said Sequoia's father, "Son
Across the smoking battle ground
If the white man talks on leaves
Year after year he worked on and on
"What's the strange thing here I see?"
Carry messages to his brother far away
Just as the white men's there on the ground
Then Sequoia walking lightly
So strange these snow white leaves"
Crumbled the snow white leaves
Sequoia turned to his father's eyes
The truth in the heart of the far off man
And he makes bird track marks
Followed his father quietly
The Cherokee alphabet
Sequoia went from place to place
Leave such things to them"
And an eagle's feather from the eagle's bed
His eyes began to lose their light
