In a little depression there lay outstretched a stalwart Sioux warrior, stark naked with the exception of a breech clout and moccasins. I could not help feeling a sorrow as I stood gazing upon him. He was within a few hundred yards of his home and family, which we had attempted to destroy and he had tried to defend. The home of the slayer was perhaps a thousand miles away. In a few days the wolves and buzzards would have his remains torn asunder and scattered, for the soldiers had no disposition to bury a dead Indian.
In Peter Cozzens' "The Earth Is Weeping," the narrator reflects on the tragic fate of a Sioux warrior who lies dead on the battlefield. Stark naked except for minimal clothing, the warrior is only a short distance from his home and family, which he bravely sought to protect against destruction. This scene evokes deep sorrow as it illustrates the stark contrast between the warrior's immediate surroundings and the distant home of his enemy, highlighting the tragedy of conflict and loss.
The narrative conveys the grim reality that the fallen warrior's body will soon be left to the elements, as the soldiers show no intention of giving him a proper burial. This lack of respect for his remains emphasizes the dehumanization often faced by Native Americans during this brutal chapter of history. Cozzens' work serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of war and the personal tragedies that arise from it, shedding light on the often-overlooked suffering of those who defended their lands and loved ones.
