Coyote Hawk & Grandmother Bear

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Painting by Susan Seddon Boulet ‘The Secret’  

http://www.turningpointgallery.com/bio.asp

Coyote Hawk & Gramma Bear

The Speaking Mountain of Truth and Thunder

How to move a mountain.

One day

many lifetimes ago

before and after time mattered,

a young Coyote Hawk traveled South 

on the same path

yet opposite directions

as a Grandmother Bear. 

One of many Grandmothers, Grandmothers.

They were, are and always will be

great dreamers and visionaries.

They met

for what would normally have been

only a moment. 

Gramma Bear said, 

“Haudy-do young Coyote Hawk.”

(For he was one of her many relatives)

Yet the young Coyote Hawk

began to walk past her

without saying a word,

without even a nod.

Gramma Bear grumbled…

slightly sternly, wisely, and 

calmly saying, “have you no respect?

(Her grumble echoed throughout the land.)

I am an elder, and

I sit on the High Council of Visionaries, 

Healers and Dreamers. 

Can you not even nod, or

acknowledge me with a hau-dy doo?”

The young Coyote Hawk snarled,

“I bow to no one, 

not even you,

for I am a great visionary, dreamer, and

a Brujo.”

(The Earth fell silent.)

Gramma Bear thought to herself,

pausing and calming her heart. 

(Natures Songs then returned.)

A moment lapsed, and 

century’s reversed and sped forward

returning into the moment

observing her presence, and

Coyote Hawk’s arrogance.

She smiled a knowing, and 

compassionate smile. Then saying,

“please, I would love to see your powers

of knowing’s and manifestations.”

Coyote Hawk grumbled again

“I don’t have the time or the inclination. 

I do not play majick tricks for anyone’s approval

or opinions.” 

Gramma Bear stopped time with a glance, and 

a prayer, which is what she is.

(she is a walking prayer)

She called in her council

“All my relations, 

what path will I guide this young 

foolish dreamer?”

Moments went by, and 

century’s reversed and sped forward

returning to the now. 

Conceding that in the end, 

arrogance, greed and temptation

are the greatest teachers

to prospective Brujo’s,

Gramma Bear then offered a trade.

“I will grant you a wish

if you can move that mountain”

(The mountain is known as

“The Speaking Mountain of Truth and Thunder.)

But there are four rules:

1. You cannot wish to kill anyone.

2. You cannot wish to bring someone back from the dead.

3. You cannot wish to change the past.

4. You cannot wish to make anyone fall in love with you.”

“Very well,” sneered Coyote Hawk;

you shall have your wish as well.”

He began to sing his invocation, and 

danced and shaked his sparking rattle.

(a rattle past on to him by his relatives

throughout the century’s.)

He sang and projected, 

“grib-zickle-zorker-duster-zot…., 

grib-zickle-zorker-duster-zot….,

grib-zickle-zorker-duster-zot….,”

Looking forward at the Speaking Mountain 

of Truth and Thunder, 

Gramma Bear saw no change.

The mountain songs where silent.

It had not moved. 

Only quiet morphing wispy clouds

were seen passing by, 

as was the usual that day.

She scratched her back, and

clawed on a Great Old Cedar Tree.

Then yawning and sitting,

leaning back on the Cedar Tree 

in the shade saying “All my relations.”

(The Cedar Tree is one of her relatives.)

“My dear young Coyote Hawk,

the Speaking Mountain of Truth 

and Thunder has not moved.

Would you like some huckleberries 

to give you strength?”

Then saying, “All my relations,”

(The Huckleberries are one of her relatives.)

“NO!” scorned Coyote Hawk.

“I am a great visionary, dreamer, and

a Brujo;

I need no help from you

or your medicine berries.”

Grammas voice sometimes sounded 

like distant rolling thunder

when she was guiding her relatives.

Gramma Bears voice altered saying, 

“that is fine but still

you are welcome to some 

should you change your mind.

All my relations, please continue”

(Remember, Coyotes are one of Gramma Bears relatives)

Again, he began to sing his invocation

with a little bit stronger tone, and 

danced and shaked his sparking rattle,

and he sang and projected, 

“grib-zickle-zorker-duster-zot…., 

grib-zickle-zorker-duster-zot….,

grib-zickle-zorker-duster-zot….,

grib-zickle-zorker-duster-zot….,”

Now he was beginning to tire, and

the majick had appeared to fail

yet again. 

This time he sat down

where he stood 

out in the warm soothing sunshine.

The heat made the smellings 

of the Huckleberries travel 

to his very talented snout.

Coyote Hawk sat

and panted in exhaustion. 

Gramma Bear looked on 

at him in silence observing, and

listening to her inner-guidance

from the High Council

of Visionaries, Healers and Dreamers. 

Moments went by, and 

century’s reversed and sped forward

returning to the now. 

Coyote Hawk reached 

into his medicine travel bag

grabbing some Smoked Chinook Salmon

he traded for a previous illusion

he manifested to a Chinook Fisherman.

Gramma Bear said “Mmmmmm,

All my relations 

(Chinook Salmon is also one of her relatives.)

That smells wonderful. 

Would you like to trade for some of my berries?

They will give you extra strength to move 

the Speaking Mountain of Truth and Thunder.”

“NO” scorned Coyote Hawk;

“I am a great visionary, dreamer, and

a Brujo!

I need no help from you

or your medicine berries.”

Coyote Hawk walked over

to the Trickling Brook of Water Medicine,  

whispering…,

“Water Medicine, have pity on me…,

please help me.

All my relations.”

(for water is one of Coyote Hawks relatives.)

Coyote Hawk had whispered 

to the Trickling Brook of Water Medicine

so Gramma Bear could not hear him.

Coyote Hawk meandered back 

over to where he could see 

the Speaking Mountain of Truth and Thunder.

Gramma Bear who was leaning 

under the shade of the 

Great Old Cedar Tree

looking as though she was napping. 

Being one of many great listeners,

dreamers and visionaries,

she could hear everything 

she was paying attention to.

She heard Coyote Hawk’s prayer.

Again, he began to sing and project 

his incantations, 

“grib-zickle-zorker-duster-zot…., 

grib-zickle-zorker-duster-zot….,

grib-zickle-zorker-duster-zot….,”

Once again his charms and projections

failed Coyote Hawk. 

He then bowed in humiliation.

The Water Medicine Nation

The Salmon Nation

The Huckleberry Nation

The Cedar Nation

The Ancestors of his Coyote Hawk Nation

The Sun and Star Nations

The Brujo, Majician and Clown Nations

The Bear Nations

The High Council

of Visionaries and Dreamers, and 

all of their relations 

who observed Coyote Hawk, 

and Gramma Bear

that warm day at the footsteps of 

The Speaking Mountain of Truth, and Thunder

went silent…

As he bowed in humiliation

Coyote Hawk said,

“I am not the great Brujo, 

Dreamer or Visionary I claimed to be.  

Please have pity on me Gramma Bear.”

Gramma Bear stood, 

gave herself another good scratch 

on the Cedar Tree, 

put the rest of her Huckleberry’s

back into her Nez Perce Cornhusk Pouch saying, 

“All my relations, we are All connected.”

(The Corn Nation and the Nez Peace Nation

are also of her many relatives.)

Then pausing for a long while

looking deeply at Coyote Hawk.

Moments went by, and 

century’s reversed and sped forward

returning back to the now

before Gramma Bear began to speak.

“You are young and stubborn.

Both are qualities you will need 

to learn to understand why we met 

on this fine day.” 

“In the long run your confidence is a gift 

from the Great Mystery.

It will serve you well; however, 

you forgot where your power

really comes from.”

“You come from a long line

of a Clan of great Visionary’s, Dreamers, and

Brujo’s. 

Pride in them

does not give you power.”

“Maybe in time you will be able 

to teach us All how to move 

the Speaking Mountain of Truth, and 

Thunder.”

Coyote Hawk bowed again 

saying, “Thank You

Gramma Bear. Thank you

for your guidance, and 

quiet gentle example.

How should I learn?”

Gramma Barr grinned. 

Moments went by, and 

century’s reversed and sped forward

returning back to the now

before Gramma Bear began to speak.

Gramma Bear Said, “Pray The Way 

you did with the Trickling Brook. Ask for help.”

Coyote Hawk said,

“I will ask to go and live with, and learn from

the Speaking Mountain of Truth, and Thunder. 

The Speaking Mountain of Truth and 

Thunder has always been one of our relatives.”

Gramma Bear nodded, and

wished the Young Coyote Hawk well saying,

“Health, Help and Happiness young Coyote Hawk.

And here are some Huckleberries for your journey.“ 

(Coyote Hawk is one of All of Gramma Bears relatives.)

He nodded saying, “Thank You,”

as Gramma Bear turned

and headed back toward the North.

That day, that night,

Coyote Hawk could not move 

beyond the Trickling Brook of Water Medicine. 

He drank from the Trickling Brook as he prayed,

“Great Spirit, Great Mystery,

I am such a Fool, 

I was such a Clown,

I was so rude to Grandmother Bear

who sits on the High Council

of Visionaries, Healers and Dreamers. 

I am not a great visionary, dreamer, or Brujo.

I need to rest.

I am exhausted. 

Please help me…, 

please have pity on me…”

Coyote Hawk then fell asleep

to the voice of the Trickling Rustling Brook.

“We are all connected, We are all related. 

Coyote Hawk is one of my relatives.”

As Coyote Hawk fell deeper and deeper

into the place where he thought 

his power came from;

he began to journey with his ancestors. 

He began to remember all the stories

they gave to him,

all the dreams and visions 

they gave to him

‘in his world of dreams’

and all the others. 

He began to remember who he was

despite his humiliating experience

in that other world

where he met Gramma Bear on the path

in opposite directions, just West 

of the Speaking Mountain of Truth and Thunder.

His Ancestors said to him, 

“We are All connected. We are All related.

Gramma Bear is one of our relatives

who is an elder, and on our High Council

of Visionaries, Healers and Dreamers

and Brujo’s, and Curandera’s.“ 

Coyote Hawk then met an Old Coyote Hawk

in his dreams.

He was grey with a long beard, and

long hair like a Lions mane.

His nose was crooked 

like a Hawks Beak, and

he had wings, and golden eyes.

The Old Coyote Hawk said, 

“I am here to guide you 

Young Coyote Hawk.

Gramma Bear sent me to be with you.

You must go with me 

to the Speaking Mountain of Truth and Thunder.”

This startled young Coyote Hawk

so much so

that he woke from his dreams.

As he woke he could still hear 

the Old Coyote Hawk’s voice 

in the Spirit of his heart, 

and then a Hawk screeched in the Eastern Sky

toward the Speaking Mountain of Truth and Thunder.

Young Coyote Hawk was quickened and said,

“Hau-dy Hawk. We are All related.”

(The Hawk is obviously one of his relatives.)

He then drank from the Trickling Brook of Water Medicine

as he prayed his morning prayers.

“Great Spirit, Great Mystery,

thank you for this Trickling Brook of Water Medicine, 

and the Hawk’s greeting, and 

the dream of the Old Coyote Hawk, and 

my Ancestors. 

Thank you for yesterday’s journey, and

for Gramma Bear’s grace and kindness.

Please help me…, 

Please have pity on me…

I am off to the Speaking Mountain of Truth and Thunder.”

(The Speaking Mountain of Truth, and Thunder 

is one of my relatives.)

He gathered himself,

ate some dried Salmon and Huckleberries saying, 

“We are All related. We are All connected” 

(Salmon and Huckleberries are his relatives)

Then Coyote Hawk headed East towards

The Speaking Mountain of Truth and Thunder.

As Coyote Hawk traveled

he received a message 

from Spirit within. 

“Say We are All related. We are All connected 

to everything you see on your way to

The Speaking Mountain of Truth and Thunder.”

So he thanked his Helpers and began

“We are All related my Helpers

We are All connected Speaking Mountain of Truth

We are All related brooks, valleys, and trees

We are All connected sky, birds, flowers and bees

We are All related clouds, thunders, and

sun, moon, stars and the images there I see

We are All connected winds, words and sounds 

We are All related time, space, dimensions, and 

everything there is to be found

We are All connected stone people

We are All related Speaking Mountain of Truth.”

(They are all Coyote Hawks relatives)

Coyote Hawk traveled East for days

until he walked on 

the Speaking Mountain of Truth and Thunder. 

He offered tobacco and said,

“Hau-dy Speaking Mountain of Truth and Thunder”

Then he continued…

to the Speaking Mountain of Truth and Thunder,

“I have come to learn from you

after humiliating myself with Gramma Bear. 

I told her I could move you, and 

I could not.

My ancestors and my spirit guide

came to me  telling me

to come and be with you.”

As he spoke a moment lapsed, and 

century’s reversed and sped forward

returning into the moment 

that Coyote Hawk spoke.

White, yellow, red, black, and 

purple clouds 

were quickly forming to the south 

in the clear blue sky, and

just below the forest Green Mother Earth

of the Speaking Mountain of Truth and Thunder.

The ominous clouds formed 

separate from the rest

of the turquoise sky, and

slowly approached Coyote Hawk

from south to north

where he stood knowing

for the first time

the Speaking Mountain of Truth and Thunder

was about to speak.

Lightening and Thunder Beings 

were dancing on Our Mother Earth.

Then there was a piercing crack 

as if to say

in a rolling, thundering, single word,

“STAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY.”

Coyote Hawk felt the lightning strikes

rise back up from Mother Earth,

traveling to his paws

then to his fir.  

Then he felt something strange

under his chin

and behind on his tail…

a beard and tiny feathers

had began to form

similar to the Old Coyote Hawk.

Each moment lapsed, and 

century’s reversed and sped forward

returning into all his nows

observing his presence

as his feathers and beard grew

for almost forty years.

Coyote Hawk had greeted, and

studied under the Old Coyote Hawk, and 

with all living things on

the Speaking Mountain of Truth and Thunder

for all those many years. 

His final task 

given to him by Gramma Bears messenger

the Old Coyote Hawk 

was to write a poem

about his experience,

so he wrote this poem.

We are All connected

We are all related

i am the mountain

i am the sea

i am the valley

i am the tree

i am the sky

i am the bird

i am the flower

i am the bee

i am the cloud

i am the thunder

i am the sun

i am the moon

i am the stars

i am the visions I’ve found

i am the wind 

i am the word

i am the poem

i am the song I breathe

i am tone and sound 

i am what I heard

i am time

i am free

i am space

i am All dimensions 

i am everything there is around

i am everything i care to be

i am grateful

i am this small stone 

the mountain gifted to me

i carry like a tiny bird

i am the story

i am this poem

the mountain gave to me for free

i am the mountain

We are All connected

We are All related

The night that Coyote Hawk finished the poem

the Old Coyote Hawk came to him

in a waking dream. He said,

“We are All connected

We are all related Young Coyote Hawk.

You have done well.

All of the peoples of All Our Relations

here on the Speaking Mountain of Truth and Thunder

the Standing Nations

the Wing-ed Nations 

the Creepy Crawler Nations 

the Two Leg-ged Nations

the Four Leg-ged Nations

the Swimmer Nations 

the Ancient Reptile Nations

the Water, Earth, Wind, Fire and Ether Nations

and All of the Star an Planet Nations

of the Speaking Mountain of Truth and Thunder

will miss us.

We Love you very much.”

Coyote Hawk sat up, and

began to cry

Tears of Sadness, Joy and Love.

Flowers and creatures grew

where they fell. 

Coyote Hawk said, 

“Thank You Old Coyote Hawk,

We are all related. We are All Connected.

And his voice sounded like

gentle rolling thunder

for the first time in his life.

His fir and beard had turned long, and  

white and gray;

his wings were long and strong;

his eyes were green like 

the Speaking Mountain of Truth and Thunder

his nose was bent down

like the beak of a Hawk

his chest was large

to make room for his heart.

He said, ‘Thank You’ in All the languages he learned on the 

Speaking Mountain of Truth and Thunder.

‘Thank you, One Heart, One Love, One Circle.’

Before Coyote hawk traveled back down 

the Speaking Mountain of Truth and Thunder

he offered tobacco to the stone nation, and 

asked, “May I carry two small Stone People

in memory of my life

on the Speaking Mountain of Truth and Thunder?”

When he looked down 

there were two small Heart Stones.

Coyote Hawk picked them up and said,

as his voice sounded like

gentle rolling thunder

for the second time in his life,

Thank you Speaking Mountain of Truth and Thunder.

Thank You Great Mystery.

Thank You Creator

‘Thank you Sacred Stone People.

We are all connected.’

As he traveled

back on to the road 

to where he first met Gramma Bear,

the Old Coyote Hawk 

told him to wait by the Trickling Brook

he had drank from

all those many years before.

Young Coyote Hawk nodded, he sat, 

as he drank some cool clear water 

and whispered to the Trickling Brook

and all his relatives, Water is Life.

‘We are All connected, We are All related, 

All my relations.’

Coyote Hawk already knew 

what was to happen next. 

Gramma Bear gave him signs 

and instructions

before he returned.

She was coming to meet him

by the old Cedar Tree, and

the Trickling Brook.

When Gramma Bear arrived

she was greeted cheerfully by Coyote Hawk, 

“Hau-dy Gramma Bear,

All my relations

we hope we find you well

As a thank you for your guidance,

I have a small gift for you.”

Coyote Hawk held out his paw 

Inviting Gramma Bear to hold out hers saying,

‘because of you, and 

the teachings of all of our relations, and

my time with the the Old Coyote Hawk 

on the Speaking Mountain of Truth and Thunder

I have learned how to move it to you.’

Coyote Hawk gently placed 

one of the Heart Stones

in Gramma Bears paw, and  

softly held the Heart Stone 

in her paw with his paws

like a sandwich saying,

“Everything changed for me

that day we met

all those many years ago.”

“All I needed to do

was to say, We are All connected, 

We are All related

to move the mountain to you.”

And so he said, 

“We are All related, we are All connected. 

Thank you, Grandmother Bear.’

At that moment, All the Hearts and Spirits 

of the Speaking Mountain of Truths and Thunder 

were passed on to Grandmother Bears 

Heart and Spirit.

Grandmother Bear nodded quietly 

in acknowledgment, smiling deeply 

while gazing at the Heart Stone

as a tear fell to the ground. 

Flowers grew below her feet 

and then all of the way down the Valley

of the Speaking Mountain of Truths and Thunder.

As the flowers grew 

there was gentle rolling thunder 

deep down in the valley.

It sounded like, 'Thank You.' 

Coyote Hawk was now not as young

He became a storyteller for all his relations.

I wonder what he did with the second Heart Stone

the Speaking Mountain of Truths and Thunders

gave to him on his way home?

~ hsh © 041614 

(edit 090924) 

Coyote Dance · Robbie Robertson · The Red Road Ensemble / Music For The Native Americans https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoDYyzqz8m8