Listen: Great Spirit   

Oh, Great Spirit . . .

Whose voice in the winds,
I hear,
and whose breath gives life
to all the world,
Hear me--
Before You, I come,
one of Your many children!

Small and weak, am I.
Your strength and wisdom,
I need.
Make me walk in beauty.
Make my heart respect all you have made ~
My ears to hear your voice.

Make me wise so that I may know
all you have taught my people
The lessons you have hidden
in every leaf and rock.

I seek strength not to be
superior to my brothers and sisters,
Make me able to fight
my greatest enemy ~ myself.
Make me ready to stand before You
with clean hands,
and straight eyes.

When life fades,
as the fading sunset,
may our spirits stand before You
without shame!

I have spoken . . .

~ Credited to Chief Yellow Lark, Lakota