All works by John Trudell are held under US Copyright Law.
If you are interested in using his words for publication, recording, performance or other, please contact DRIVE PUBLISHING (http://drivepublishing.com)
Drive Music Publishing
12650 Riverside Drive, Ste. 200
Studio City, California 91607
facebook.com/johntrudellarchives
IT ALWAYS SEEMED![]()
![]()
It always seemed ![]()
the best we could do![]()
never was good enough![]()
![]()
Somehow there was just no getting through ![]()
to places![]()
we were searching for![]()
tomorrow close ahead of us![]()
![]()
Our past being in the tense![]()
with yesterday’s laughter![]()
echoing in the shadows![]()
of forgotten promises![]()
![]()
We struggle to carry on![]()
taking each day![]()
one at a time![]()
the mending and the breaking ![]()
creating patterns for our life
Hey, America![]()
Caucasian connection![]()
I look around at your world![]()
with its imagery of sameness.![]()
I look at all that you have![]()
lost to the imagery![]()
![]()
My heart hurts for you![]()
for Life is a Balance![]()
that you just can’t seem to find![]()
I look at what you have going![]()
away from you![]()
A few times I’ve wondered![]()
would I trade places?![]()
![]()
I do not mean to be unkind![]()
but the knowledge of Balance![]()
and the seeing it takes to get there![]()
have helped to show me![]()
If I trade with you![]()
programmed ignorance![]()
would become my new lack of a way![]()
of Life![]()
![]()
For Life![]()
is more than material illusions![]()
Life is to be lived![]()
and experienced.![]()
Life is to seek knowledge![]()
share![]()
on behalf of the natural world![]()
Life is to be spirit and body ![]()
and harmony![]()
with the Universe![]()
![]()
We will co-exist with you![]()
in your machine world![]()
but we can never join you![]()
for it’s too hard to tell![]()
humans from machines.![]()
Ask yourself a question![]()
a question about Balance![]()
![]()
Can you understand![]()
your connection to Life![]()
Can you understand![]()
your connection to Peace![]()
Can you understand![]()
your connection to Security![]()
Can you understand ![]()
between happiness and unhappiness![]()
Can you understand![]()
who needs you![]()
Can you understand![]()
Right and Wrong![]()
Can you understand![]()
to see?![]()
![]()
what’s been done to you![]()
who killed your harmony![]()
who imprisoned your will![]()
who was it that told you![]()
it was alright to attack Earth![]()
how to attack yourself?![]()
![]()
How much longer![]()
will you go on fighting![]()
for money![]()
fighting for jobs![]()
fighting your relations ![]()
fighting yourself?![]()
How much longer must you go on fighting![]()
against the way you are meant to be?![]()
![]()
You are the children of Earth![]()
You must Resist![]()
the abusers of Life![]()
Fight for Earth![]()
and be Free![]()
If you understand . . . ![]()
![]()
Resist . . .
In celebration of John Trudell’s 75th year, John Trudell Archives announces the re-print of LIVING IN REALITY: Song Called Poems. ![]()
![]()
This book of lines was originally released in 1982 and has been out of print for many years.![]()
![]()
“Dedicated to the ones who went before . . . “![]()
![]()
Pre-order your copy here:![]()
shop.forwardmerch.com/products/john-trudell-living-in-reality-songs-called-poems![]()
![]()
The book will ship to you on or around April 15th.![]()
![]()
Thank you for celebrating love and life and supporting the John Trudell Archives.
Celebrate Love. Celebrate Life.![]()
![]()
John Trudell![]()
(February 15, 1946 - December 8, 2015)
Artist Jonathon Stall and Intrinsic Paths are donating 100% of the proceeds from this print inspired by "Listening/Honor Song," to John Trudell Archives. The prints are 4x4 in size and cost $5. They can be purchased through the link below. ![]()
![]()
www.intrinsicpaths.com/product-page/grandmother-moon-4x4-john-trudell-archives
Please consider purchasing this original design created by Wovoka Trudell Wovoka Trudell Art for your holiday card this year. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to help families this holiday season. Thank you for the consideration!
The Smithsonian National Museum of American Indian (NMAI) is pleased to include TRUDELL for inclusion in NMAI’s virtual 2020 Native Cinema Showcase (NCS), Wednesday, Nov.18 – Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. ![]()
![]()
The screening will be available for 5 days, streaming On Demand via our museum’s website starting Saturday, November 21, 7pm at americanindian.si.edu/ncs. All films are free. Please visit the website to see the full showcase schedule.
We hope to see you tomorrow. ![]()
1st Annual Gathering of Clear & Coherent Thought![]()
October 13-14, 2020![]()
Register now. Redthought.org
Please register at Redthought.org![]()
1st Annual Gathering of Clear & Coherent Thought![]()
October 13-14, 2020
Please register at Redthought.org![]()
1st Annual Gathering of Clear & Coherent Thought![]()
October 13-14, 2020
New Shirt now available in the John Trudell Archives Store. ![]()
![]()
“I’m feeling a little sensitive today so don’t fuck with me.” - John Trudell![]()
![]()
www.johntrudell.com
One time ![]()
I was visiting ![]()
with my relatives ![]()
the clouds, the mountains, ![]()
the sky, the trees![]()
![]()
My relatives ![]()
touched my spirit ![]()
nudged it lovingly![]()
![]()
Listen to us ![]()
impatient one ![]()
We are forever![]()
You must remember ![]()
the gentleness ![]()
of time![]()
![]()
You are struggling ![]()
to be ![]()
who you are![]()
You say you want ![]()
to learn ![]()
the old ways ![]()
Struggling to learn ![]()
when ![]()
all you must do ![]()
is remember![]()
![]()
Remember the people![]()
Remember sky and Earth![]()
Remember the people ![]()
have always struggled ![]()
to live ![]()
in harmony ![]()
in peace![]()
![]()
Struggle against selfishness ![]()
and weakness ![]()
so the people ![]()
may live ![]()
as nations![]()
![]()
The old ways are hard![]()
The people have always ![]()
had to work ![]()
together![]()
![]()
Remember ![]()
impatient one![]()
Remember ![]()
and live![]()
Do not be afraid ![]()
of truth ![]()
respect![]()
discipline![]()
Share your life ![]()
so the people ![]()
may live![]()
![]()
Honor sky ![]()
and Earth![]()
Honor yourself![]()
Honor your relations![]()
![]()
Remember ![]()
impatient one ![]()
the gentleness ![]()
of time ![]()
so the people ![]()
may live![]()
![]()
(c) 1982 ![]()
John Trudell![]()
from "Living in Reality"![]()
Poet Tree Publishing
We are the still ![]()
in the still beating heart![]()
![]()
We are the calm ![]()
of the raging storm![]()
![]()
We are the wailing ![]()
from old women’s throats![]()
![]()
We are the survivors ![]()
of genocide history![]()
![]()
We are the colors ![]()
of the butterfly’s wings![]()
![]()
We are the powers ![]()
of the eagle plume![]()
![]()
We are Earth and Sky![]()
![]()
(c) 1982 ![]()
from![]()
"Living In Reality"![]()
John Trudell![]()
Poet Tree Publishing
1st annual gathering of Clear & Coherent Thought. ![]()
•![]()
Redthought.org![]()
•![]()
Date to be announced soon.