Leslie D. Hannah

Tahlequah, Oklahoma, USA

Leslie D. Hannah is a Cherokee Indian from Tahlequah, Oklahoma. He teaches English composition at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah. He is married to Tori Ann (Sparks) Hannah, and they have one child, Nicci. "I write mostly fiction - short stories, short screen plays, and the occasional novella. I have had several of these published, and my first collection of fiction is being published soon. I must be in a special mood to write; I have found that I cannot force any writing, especially poetry. It has to write itself; I am merely the conduit from the cosmos to the paper."

With A Drink And A Friend

There is no better time than tonight to spend
The evening with a drink and a friend
Exchanging stories from long ago
Recalling others we used to know
Singing songs from our youth
Our ragged souls we'll try to soothe
We'll count the loves we've won and lost
And then we'll tally up the cost
Then over to the kitchen sink
To mix ourselves another drink
Then back to the couch we'll make our way
The perfect end to a difficult day
And as the night draws to a close
Back we'll go for one more dose
To hold me over until I spend
My next evening with a drink and a friend

Spirit Of A Warrior

I have seen a thousand wars, through eyes accustomed to death
Trod a thousand battle fields, in bare feet, sandals,
On horse back, and in boots
Thrown a thousand rocks, a thousand spears,
Shot a thousand arrows, a thousand bullets,
Launched a thousand rockets,
I know the thousand faces of death
I have seen them all, a thousand times over
I have been them all, through a thousand different hosts
I have left thousand of grieving families
Still, like time and war
I go on
But I grow tired
I would like to pause
No matter what I may pretend
I would lke to feel the sun on my face
And turn my back on the spectacle of war
I want to lay my defenses down
And pick up faith
I am tired of fighting
No one cries harder for peace
Than a warrior who has lost the will to fight
But I am forced to fight on
I dare not stop fighting now
For if I do
All that has been gained in my thousand wars will be lost
So I will fight one more battle
One last war, to its brutal end
Then I will pause
And sit down with my friends
We will share a drink and a laugh
And perhaps a tear
But for now, I fight on
For I am the Spirit of a Warrior
And I cry