Haienwatha and the Hart-Crown of Hickory

Friday afternoon, the Twelfth of March, I dreamt. I had somehow been appointed a 'Rescuer' of some ten to twelve 'White Brides', all abducted by Eastern Native Americans in a wild past age, or in some remote future when America was being rebirthed.

Each bride had been force-wed to a powerful chieftain. I don't remember the early 'rescues' I made (or what I did with the Brides), only the last one, for my pursuer outdid any Indian I'd ever seen, living or dead. I felt a temptation even to worship him. In fact, he's one of my great heroes.

The Indians were riding over broad grass-grown hills by the sea, and I fled before them with a beautiful White Bride on a proud white horse, over a stream and high bank, over a hedge and stone fence into a meadow of oaks.

Behind me, on the plain, I saw an army of thousands. The plain rang, and clear voices vibrated like trumpets. I heard resonant pealing shouts of "Hiya-WATHA! Hiya-WATHA! Hiya-WATHA!"

The great Chieftain, an Iroquois (my own bloodline, since Cherokee were Iroquoian) came riding behind, and he had a tall upright crown of hazel and hickory rising up from his shoulderblades and collarbone on either side. They rose up vertical like small trees, gnarled and finger-limbed, intertwining like wicker. It struck me to the core, and I wanted to follow him...but I was leading his bride.

I climbed a tree with the White Bride, while an Indian guide climbed up with me, telling me if I wasn't brave enough to kill Hiawatha, he (my guide) would kill ME.

And up he came up the tree after us, and I stabbed Hiawatha between the collarbone and the neck, about three times, while my guide said earnestly: "There must be blood. I need to see blood."
And there was blood. I don't think he died nevertheless.

I was stung with remorse, and bewilderment at what was happening, for I so admired this Hiawatha/Haienwatha. What a great and sad irony that this namesake of the Onondagan follower of the Great Peacemaker (Deganawida), and enforcer of the Peacemaker's vision, fell under my blade in my dream.