Chief Tecumseh: Words of Wisdom
“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 yours. 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 the 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 hero going home.”
~ Chief Tecumseh
I simply present the warrior’s words here. They speak more eloquently for themselves than any commentary I may have in my mind.
http://www.wisdomcommons.org/wisbits/662-chief-tecumseh-s-words-of-wisdom
Additional Chief Tecumseh quotes
This poem was quoted, quite appropriately in the 2012 movie Act of Valor.
The abridged version presented in the movie:
“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 yours. 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.
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 hero going home.”
~ Tecumseh
My Temple
The Mountainside is my Temple;
The Shoreline is my Masjid;
Deep in the Woods, I kneel,
The Shrine surrounds me
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— Jalal
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Happy Birthday, Queen
In the midst of Winter
The camellia blooms.
Spring is near.
.
Jalal
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–Old 454
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Your comments are welcome and appreciated.
Morning Weight
Each morning I wake
The weight of the day down presses.
Coffee and out the door.
At the red light I see. . .
The Sun Rise
. . .The weight lifts.
–Old 454
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Easy Reading
I read in my easy chair,
The Princess reads curled on the couch.
For at least a moment,
All is well in the world.
.
.
–Old 454
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I hear the ancestors
I’m at the Stove
In the background. . .
The Princess sings
. . . I hear the ancestors
.
.
.
— Old 454
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between power lines
Between power lines
Over warehouse rooftops
Sunrise shines through
All melts away
. . .
. . .
–Old454
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pink shirt and flip flops
pink shirt and flip flops
in search of sea shell treasures
the sea laps the shore
–old454
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mud puddles
Training run, watching skies.
Thunderstorms roll in,
Splashing in mud puddles
–Old454
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