Oh, Great Spirit whose voice I hear
in the winds,
Whose breath gives life to the world,
hear me...
I come to you as one of your many children.
I am small and week.
I need your strength and your wisdom.
May I walk in beauty.
Make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have made,
And my ears sharp to your voice.
Make me wise so that I may know the things you have
taught your children,
The lessons you have written in every leaf and rock.
Make me strong,
Not to be superior to my brothers, but to fight my
greatest enemy--
Myself...
Make me ever ready to come to you with straight eyes
So that when life fades as the fading sunset
My spirit may come to you without shame...
Translated to English by
Chief Yellow Lark
Of the Sioux Tribe 1887...
