Sequoia's winters were sixteen silent tongue spirit clean




He walked at his father's side




Across the smoking battle ground where red and white men lay all around





So many here had died




The wind had scattered around snow white leaves upon the ground




Not leaves like leaves from trees





Sequoia said what can this be what's the strange thing here I see




From where come leaves like these




Sequoia turned to his father's eyes and he said father you're wise





From where come such snow white leaves




With such strange marks upon these squares




Not even the wise owl could put them there





So strange these snow white leaves




His father shielding his concern resenting the knowledge Sequoia yearned




Crumbled the snow white leaves





He said when I explain then it's done these are talking leaves my son




The white men's talking leaves




The white man takes a berry of black and red





And an eagle's feather from the eagle's bed





And he makes bird track marks




And the marks on the leaves they say carry messages to his brother far away




And his brother knows what's in his heart



They see these marks and they understand the truth in the heart of the far off man




The enemies can't hear them




Said Sequoia's father son they weave bad medicine on these talking leaves




Leave such things to them



Then Sequoia walking lightly followed his father quietly but so amazed was he




If the white man talks on leaves why not the Cherokee



Vanished from his father's face Sequoia went from place to place




But he could not forget



Year after year he worked on and on till finally he cut into stone




The Cherokee alphabet




Sequoia's hair by now was white his eyes began to lose their light



But he taught all who would believe




That the Indian's thoughts could be written down



Just as the white men's there on the ground and he left us these talking leaves