INDAANIS

By  Debi Bruce

Theres something about the number seven when she left

us that day,

She was only seven months old when the creator took

her away.

We looked for signs of meaning but could only see with

our hearts,

That she left us for a reason not to tear us apart.

At night we lit her a fire so that she could see,

All the love we are sending with her on her journey.

On the first night we cried and then asked why,

Why would you take her from us she didn't deserve to

die.

And on the second night the fire still going strong,

No one could find any comforting words or even in a

song.

On the third day the smell of sage and burning

firewood arose to the sky,

Two Eagles flying above spread their magnificent wings

to fly.

Ghamma's heart was broken as were mommy and daddy's

too,

Indaanis came to visit Ghamma in a dream and left a

song to help her through.

She said when I get to where I'm going don't cry for

me down here,

I'll use the red phone you left me me to call when you

shed a tear.

And on that fourth day Ghamma was finally able to get

some rest,

For she knew in her heart Grampa was there to meet

Indaanis and hold her close to his chest.

On the fifth day the creator sent us a spiritual

advisor to teach us how to cope,

We had a feast and shared bluberries we were filled

with a glimmer of hope.

The advisor spoke to her in ojibwe, "Indaanis get up!

its time to head West",

Our eyes filled with tears as we knew it was for the

best.

We prayed to our relatives to meet her along the way,

We even offered tobacco because we knew we had to

stay.

Indaanis took with her some strawberries, food, and a

tobacco plug,

For she was to meet an old man across the river, wii

gaagiigidowag.

The old amn told her to sit with him and talk they

will eat, sing, and pray,

She will sleep inside his teepee and wait for her

relatives to meet her and take her the rest of the

way.

And then she will have plums which will make her pure,

From all the sickness she had here on earth for which

there was no cure.

And on the seventh day she was laid to rest in the

ground,

But it warmed our hearts knowing she lay next to her

great grandparents peace and serneity were found.

For everything has a purpose, because everything fell

into place,

When the sun shone down on us for seven seconds,

auntie sang the hymn of Amazing Grace.

With the painful week we had to endure there's

something about the number seven,

Maybe someday we'll figure it out but for now we are

certain she made it to heaven. 

          In loving memory of

          Alisha Marie Janis

          05/27/05  12/28/06