Robert Penn Warren (pulitzer guy)

A tribute to his masterful poem narrative…”Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce” true aboriginal history.


I have read of

The mindful retreat of

Younger Chief Joseph

Of the Nez Perce

Before Howard, Sturgis

And Miles, the one with

The crazed, vain bravado

Of a Custer.



Many the engagement

Where stealth and patience

And courage of young

Braves' hearts

Bloodied and ripped blue coats.

Seized the scatter guns of terror.

Left horsemeat a-plenty

For the scavengers.

And men wasted

At the caprice of

Others up the chain.



Finally a tight, flat lower place

Beside the mountains.

Becoming a strategy

For withstanding in camp.

But also a box unkind

In winter for siege.

Hunger, numbness,

Silent frozen departures.



Miles waited

Wanting the glory

Before Howard rejoined.

Getting that Glory

With Howard present and

Conceding.



Horseback, Chief Joseph

Approaches, head bowed

Gray blanket over shoulder

Steps down.

Then gray cowl-like over head.

Spit rifle extended straight arms

But no longer as weapon

Rather as peace-offered trophy.



Miles makes promises.

One-armed Howard revels in relief,

Hard earned. *

Joseph's people yielding

To the necessity.

The truth of the Great Spirit.



Too many of the wrong types

Already sacrificed.

Their moans carried on the winds.

(But no white scalps ever,

EVER taken by the Nez Perce.

Fair skinned, heartless reprobates

Like wild dogs, in the

Wake of the march

Not able to say the same.)






"Ah when would the terms of the promise be kept!

When would the word of Miles set them

Among promised mountains, far blueness, far whiteness?

How could they know that Miles, whom they trusted,

Was only a brigadier behind whom

Moved forces faceless, timeless, dim,

And in such dimness merciless."

(Quote take from the narrative poem account

Of Robertt Penn Warren C. 1982, page 47.)





*As it had been a severer tax upon the energies of officers and men

than any period in the late Civil War, surely some method must be found

to encourage and properly reward such gallantry and service hardly ever

before excelled.   General O. O. Howard    Warren's poem at page 27.