As nature gradually reclaims its soil, the silence from the murdered herds is screaming from the trees. The awe we felt from bravery and stubborn stance has been replaced by shame of what a single man with guns can do, of wreckage and the vulture aftermath of death, when plains and woods are empty of those grazing beasts.
But in the distance there’s still a thunder from their hooves. The buffaloes that roam again, reclaiming, raising dust, that break monotony of static lines of sight and fill horizons once again – with life, as we have learned that heroes shouldn’t kill.
Copyright Madison Woods
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The picture this week might be a rerun, but for me it’s new. Rochelle is having a little bit of rest, but you can still go around and read the wonderful 100 word stories this week. The reference for my story is the senseless killing of buffaloes, and also the story of Buffalo Bill. I hope that some of these big animals will be allowed to reclaim some of their habitat even more.
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June 25, 2014
Björn Rudbergs writings 
I agree that too many buffaloes were killed, I am a vegan and believe in animal rights. I really liked this piece and it really reaches me, I like how the soil and trees rememeber, its blood is reclaimed
I’m no vegan, but I certainly want to be modest in my consumption of meat… I hope humanity have changed…
yes I think they will
Good piece, Bjorn. I read some time ago that the U.S. is trying to bring some of the buffalo back but I think they’re culling the herds so they don’t reach such enormous sizes.If I remember correctly, the Native Americans are permitted to kill some buffalo for food. Well done. 🙂 —Susan
I think they need to have culling to decrease the inbreeding.as well. There is a small population of Muskox in Sweden and Norway.. and it’s not very stable for genetic reasons.
One day nature will reclame all we took. Just as that lonely dandelion flourishing in a concrete crack, all we try to destroy will find it’s way back.
Very touching piece, Björn.
Oh yes. it most definitely will come back.. and come back hard upon us.
its so sad what we did to the buffalo population here in the states…and it was tied to the oppression of the native americans as well….which only adds another level….and a man with a gun can def wreck things in many contexts…
It makes me heartsick to think about the senseless destruction of the buffalo here. I do think herds are again on the upswing, but they won’t ever be as plentiful again. Man’s senseless destructiveness is often hard to bear.
Buffalo are making a comeback, both in places like Yellowstone and on farms as a source of lean meat. Unfortunately for the buffalo, many more people than just Buffalo Bill senselessly shot them, in most cases leaving their carcasses to rot. When we visited Yellowstone last summer and saw the herds, I imagined what it must have been like to see buffalo/bison as far as the eye could see!!
On a house-keeping note, ” it’s soil, the silence from the murdered herds is screaming from the treas” should be “its” and “trees”.
Well done as usual, Bjorn.
janet
Ah.. of course it’s trees.. sometimes staring at a story you miss those little typos.. Thank you .. I saw a bison in Yellowstone too.. and yes I could get a small feeling for what it used to be.. I think my focus on Buffalo Bill was the fact that he was also a hero of sorts… which others where not…
I understand your choice, Bjorn. I simply meant that as an addition to what you said.
It’s a great title and a great line in the text. I also think of southern Africa which was teeming with all types of game in the 17th century. Now all that’s left are a few animal reserves.
beautifully nostalgic…
Very deep stuff here, Bjorn. I enjoyed it.
The killing of buffaloes is one of the tragedies of our history. The Native Americans, when they made a kill, used every single part of the animal and, before taking life, asked forgiveness and thanked them for their gifts. Such a different attitude.
Powerfully written, fab 🙂
Funnily enough my husband and I were watching a historical program just the other day about how the Indians were displaced and the crazy amounts of buffalos that were killed. We did a trip to Yellowstone a few years ago and to see them up close was incredibly powerful.
Beautiful anthem to nature lost. Well done, Bjorn!
This story holds a heartfelt message and hope for the future.Your prose has a beautifully poetic rhythm, Bjorn.
There’s a rhythm to this piece, Bjorn, that makes the reading all the more mournful. Your first sentence is very well done.
Ellespeth
A very thought-providing story. Nicely done.
I meant “Thought-Provoking”.
“,,,as we have learned that heroes shouldn’t kill.” I just love that!
Dear Bjorn, We’ve been to Yellowstone and saw the bison too. They are magnificent creatures! Your story has many beautiful passages, but, like Dawn, I love the “that heroes shouldn’t kill.” is so touching! Nan 🙂
That was a great take on the prompt Bjorn.
This is a beautiful but sad piece.
Hey Bjorn, I saw a piece about the buffalo herds on TV. The scale of the destruction was so vast it was hard to believe. You’ve summed it up brilliantly with just one paragraph. I enjoyed reading it.
Great imagery and great message.
As powerful as the nature itself Bjorn – reclaiming back its place !
Well done, Bjorn. I too have seen the photos of rotting buffalo carcasses, slaughtered only for their hides (much like the elephants for their tusks). The native Americans had it right, kill only what you need for food and waste not. Even today, the white man continues to destroy Mother Earth if there’s a dollar to be had, i.e. fracking.
Certainly a tragedy you write about but your prose reads so beautifully like a poem!
Such noble imagery. So different from what is now in a pasture down the valley from me.
Bjorn, i got true inspiration from your imaginative tale and spawned my own parable…
Beautiful piece, and a true reflection on what people have done to the new continent they supposedly had a destiny for. .
Wow this is really awesome and so true- heroes shouldn’t kill!
We are the only species that kills for the sake of killing. At least the Aboriginal people when they hunt it is not for the pleasure to kill an animal senselessly, but for food. They treat game with respect as it nurtures and feeds their families. Heroes should never kill.
Dear Björn,
My husband is a hunter but never kills for the sake of killing. Whatever he’s killed, we’ve eaten.
Your story says it beautifully. A unique take on the prompt. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Another poetic piece of prose, Bjorn – and an optimistic ending.
Nice job with the prompt, Björn. A sadness permeates the story… while the loss of the great herds was horribly sad, it’s wonderful to see these huge beasts in many of the big parks in the USA now. We even have them farmed near us. Ted Turner has done a lot to bring them back to Montana.
Looks like my son and I will be in Sweden from July 11-14. If you’ll be around, let me know…
So many evocative lines in this as well as a strong message. I particularly liked ‘…silence from the murdered herds is screaming from the trees…’ That has a spine tingling quality to it.