SMOKE SIGNALS

perhaps you may have wondered
why a green light means, "let's go"
or why a red light indicates
that stopping's apropos

it's all because the indians
used smoke whipped up by scribes
with many different colors
to reflect their diatribes

a warrior out on the plains
would look out for a sign
the village would use colored smoke
their status,to define

the village, if it was besieged
would have that message spread
the fires built with materials
to make the smoke turn red

the warrior was warned
that he'd be open to attack
and that he must be wary
on the trails that he took back

the village, if it was at peace
with atmosphere, serene
the fire built with materials
to make the smoke turn green

the warrior then knew
that he would have a friendly path
and would not be subjected to
a violent aftermath

but what about those yellow lights ?
that cautionary glare
the white man was the one
that had included them in there

i'm sure there are a lot of times
that yellow signal saves
but yellow stands for cowardice
and indians are braves