Black Elk 
Oglala Sioux Holy Man
1863-1950

Everything the Power of the World does is done in a circle.
The sky is round, and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball and so are all the stars. The wind, in its greatest
power, whirls.
Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours.
The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle.
The moon does the same, and both are round. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing and always
come back where they were.
The life of a man is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves.





Earth Prayer

"Grandfather, Great Spirit, once more behold me on earth
and lean to hear my feeble
voice. You lived first, and you are older than all need, older
than all prayer. All things
belong to you -- the two-legged, the four-legged, the
wings of the air, and all green things
that live. 

"You have set the powers of the four quarters of the earth
to cross each other. You have
made me cross the good road and road of difficulties, and
where they cross, the place is
holy. Day in, day out, forevermore, you are the life of
things." 

Hey! Lean to hear my feeble voice.
At the center of the sacred hoop
You have said that I should make the tree to bloom.

With tears running, O Great Spirit, my Grandfather,
With running eyes I must say
The tree has never bloomed

Here I stand, and the tree is withered.
Again, I recall the great vision you gave me.

It may be that some little root of the sacred tree still lives.
Nourish it then
That it may leaf
And bloom
And fill with singing birds!

Hear me, that the people may once again
Find the good road
And the shielding tree.

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