Native American Proverbs And Blessings Poem by Michael Burch

These are English translations of Native American poems, prayers, proverbs and blessings, translated by Michael R. Burch.



Native American Travelers' Blessing
translation by Michael R. Burch

Let us walk together here
among earth's creatures great and small,
remembering, our footsteps light,
that one wise God created all.



Native American Prayer
translation by Michael R. Burch

Help us learn the lessons
you have left us
in every leaf and rock.



What is life?
The flash of a firefly.
The breath of the winter buffalo.
The shadow scooting across the grass that vanishes with sunset.
―Blackfoot saying, translation by Michael R. Burch



Dream Song of the Thunders
Chippewa saying
translation by Michael R. Burch

Sometimes I bemoan my 'plight'
when all the while
the wind bears me across the immense sky.



Cherokee Travelers' Blessing I
translation by Michael R. Burch

I will extract the thorns from your feet.
Yet a little longer we will walk life's sunlit paths together.
I will love you like my own brother, my own blood.
When you are disconsolate, I will wipe the tears from your eyes.
And when you are too sad to live, I will put your aching heart to rest.



Cherokee Travelers' Blessing II
translation by Michael R. Burch

Happily may you walk
in the paths of the Rainbow.
Oh! ,
and may it always be beautiful before you,
beautiful behind you,
beautiful below you,
beautiful above you,
and beautiful all around you
where in Perfection beauty is finished.



Cherokee Travelers' Blessing III
translation by Michael R. Burch

May Heaven's warmest winds blow gently there,
where you reside,
and may the Great Spirit bless all those you love,
this side of the farthest tide.
And when you go,
whether the journey is fast or slow,
may your moccasins leave many cunning footprints in the snow.
And when you look over your shoulder, may you always find the Rainbow.



The soul would see no Rainbows
if not for the eyes' tears.
―Native American proverb, translation by Michael R. Burch



A brave man dies but once,
a coward many times.
―Native American proverb, translation by Michael R. Burch



When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced.
Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice.
―White Elk, translation by Michael R. Burch



A woman's highest calling
is to help her man unite with the Source.
A man's highest calling
is to help his woman walk the earth unharmed.
―Native American proverb, translation by Michael R. Burch



Cheyenne Proverb
translation by Michael R. Burch

1.
Before you judge
a man for his sins
be sure to trudge
many moons in his moccasins.

2.
Before you judge
someone else for their sins
be sure to trudge
many moons in their moccasins.



Cherokee Prayer
translation by Michael R. Burch

As I walk life's trails
imperiled by the raging wind and rain,
grant, O Great Spirit,
that yet I may always
walk like a man.

When I think of this prayer, I think of Native Americans walking the Trail of Tears.



Prelude to Love
excerpt from a Mayan love poem
translation by Michael R. Burch

Lay out your most beautiful clothes,
maidens!
The day of happiness has arrived!

Grab your combs, detangle your hair,
adorn your earlobes with gaudy pendants.
Dress in white as becomes maidens...

Then go, give your lovers the happiness of your laughter!
And all the village will rejoice with you,
for the day of happiness has arrived!


NATIVE AMERICAN PROVERBS

Speak less thunder, wield more lightning. — Apache proverb, translation by Michael R. Burch

The more we wonder, the more we understand. — Arapaho proverb, translation by Michael R. Burch

Adults talk, children whine. — Blackfoot proverb, translation by Michael R. Burch

Don't be afraid to cry: it will lessen your sorrow. — Hopi proverb

One foot in the boat, one foot in the canoe, and you end up in the river. — Tuscarora proverb, translation by Michael R. Burch

Our enemy's weakness increases our strength. — Cherokee proverb, translation by Michael R. Burch

We will be remembered tomorrow by the tracks we leave today. — Dakota proverb, translation by Michael R. Burch

No sound's as eloquent as a rattlesnake's tail. — Navajo saying, translation by Michael R. Burch

The heart is our first teacher. — Cheyenne proverb, translation by Michael R. Burch

Dreams beget success. — Maricopa proverb, translation by Michael R. Burch

Knowledge interprets the past, wisdom foresees the future. — Lumbee proverb, translation by Michael R. Burch

The troublemaker's way is thorny. — Umpqua proverb, translation by Michael R. Burch



Warrior's Confession
translation by Michael R. Burch

Oh my love, how fair you are—
far brighter than the fairest star!



Crazy Horse's Naming Vision
by Michael R. Burch

Earthbound,
and yet I now fly
through these clouds that are aimlessly drifting...
so high
that no sound
echoing by
below where the mountains are lifting
the sky
can be heard.

Like a bird,
but not meek,
like a hawk from a distance regarding its prey,
I will shriek,
not a word,
but a screech,
and my terrible clamor will turn them to clay?
the sheep,
the earthbound.

Published by American Indian Pride and Boston Poetry Magazine

Tashunka Witko, a Lakota Sioux better known as Crazy Horse, had a vision of a red-tailed hawk and a crazily dancing and floating spirit horse at Sylvan Lake, South Dakota. In his vision he saw himself riding a shadow horse through a storm, as the hawk flew above him, shrieking. When he awoke, a red-tailed hawk was perched near his horse.

Keywords/Tags: Dream, Song, Sound of Thunder, Wind, Shadow, Crazy Horse, Lakota, Sioux, Native American, Translation, Indian, Vision, Visionary, Quest, Hawk, Eagle, Bird, Spirit, Horse, Shadow, Storm, Violence, War, Warrior, Warpath, Spiritual