So live your life that the fear of death
can never enter your heart.
Trouble no one about their religion;
respect others in their view,
and demand that they respect you.
Love your life, perfect your life,
beautify all things in your life.
Seek to make your life long and its purpose
in the service of your people.
Prepare a noble death song for the day
when you go over the great divide.
Always give a word or a sign of salute
when meeting or passing a friend,
even a stranger, when in a lonely place.
Show respect to all people and grovel to none.
When you arise in the morning
give thanks for your food and for the joy of living.
If you see no reason for giving thanks,
the fault lies only in yourself.
Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools
and robs the spirit of its vision.
When it comes your time to die,
be not like those whose hearts are filled
with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep
and pray for a little more time
to live their lives over again in a different way.
Sing your death song and die like a warrior going home.
Chief Tecumseh (Crouching Tiger) Shawnee Nation 1768-1813
Mar 14, 2013 @ 09:26:09
I love the balance of grace and power in this poem. Be kind to other, but stand firm for yourself. So often people skew in one direction or the other; I adore the sentiment of balance between the two!
Feb 18, 2013 @ 10:18:26
AWESOME reminder of how to be in this day-to-day.
Feb 18, 2013 @ 03:44:01
What lovely words to read first thing on a Monday morning x
Feb 18, 2013 @ 01:15:37
This beautiful piece reminds me to keep my life current. I have a few niggles going on and this reminds me to clean them up. Hope you are well, Joss.
Feb 18, 2013 @ 00:20:43
So much wisdom, so simply expressed.
Thank you.
Feb 17, 2013 @ 12:49:58
it is wonderful and often commonplace to get instructions on living, but to receive counsel on the right way to die… courageous, divine! i’ve taken to heart your post here, especially, “Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools
and robs the spirit of its vision.
When it comes your time to die,
be not like those whose hearts are filled
with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep
and pray for a little more time
to live their lives over again in a different way.
Sing your death song and die like a warrior going home.” thank you :~)
Feb 17, 2013 @ 07:00:30
Beautiful indeed!
What a beautiful way to live…
Feb 17, 2013 @ 06:43:35
Reblogged this on idealisticrebel and commented:
Let the beauty and rhythm of these words life your spirit.
Feb 17, 2013 @ 06:42:27
Oh, what a wonderful poem. The words flow wiith a sense of the Love and Energy of the American Indians. Thanks for share. Hugs, Barbara
Feb 16, 2013 @ 20:32:14
An amazing man…
Thanks for sharing Joss.
Feb 16, 2013 @ 15:08:55
I knew what nation that one was from, WAY before the end!
Feb 16, 2013 @ 06:08:58
Lovely – thank you.
Feb 15, 2013 @ 23:41:56
Wow! What powerful words. Thank you!