There are two sides to every story
I.
I had this dream
An Idea of mine
Through the water, through the sea
A quicker way to get my queen money
Look, see, all around
Were Unknown trees and Unknown ground
Dark skin
Hair long and straight
Language not of men but of apes
I took a step and a breath
And claimed the soil beneath me
We took them all
NOT as a friend
but as gifts for King Ferdanand
They were no match for the fight
Although they fought with all of their might
We searched this place
Sought the treasures untold
Looked for jewels and gold
We brought them sickness, ailments, and sin
All because we were true Christians
We raped their women and butchered their men
Casualties of war they were for me
But money, success, and fortune for your future economy
Years later I will be praised by thee as
One of the mightiest men of history
But at that time in my life I did not find
the favor of the queen to be mine
II.
Strange People all Around
Out of the water out of the sea
Strange People…
Not at all like me
Their skin was pale
Their hair was white
They smelled of things not quite right
We had no gold
Save the corn
We had no treasure but land in which we were born
17 ships
And an army galore
Guns, swords, dogs tearing flesh from skin
Tears shed, cries for help
We summoned for the God’s within
SLowly, slowly as I looked around
Not a friendly face was to be found
The places I once rest and called my home
Are now graves tainted by blood soon to be forgotten and unknown
The memories of this despair and unrest
Will become fables and legends at best
Indians we have come to be
Not Taino, Blackfoot, or Cherokee
Our history forgotten by those who have sworn
Americans, The true Americans They claim to be born
