" Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, and 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 ... Show respect to all people and bow to no one ... "
~Tecumseh, Shawnee~
.........................................................................................
I heard the shaman's voice,
echoing in the canyons of my mind
prompting me to take down in writing
his co-ordinates and frequency
harken to me my friend,
partake of my wares
imbibe and feast with me in the tepee of days gone by
the ancient soothsayer spoke to me with no forked tongue
his babble was one of unerring accuracy and delivery
laden with the sharp edge of the sword of experience
inviting my hackles to stand on end involuntarily
as he ruminated on what must be
some think they can own another person
well I will enlighten you,
braveheart of many moons
how can a living spirit possess another of its own kin
can light invade light
sift the truth, and discard that whichis immaterial
are my words true or false
and do I digress
you tell me
others narrate they love someone
when they don't know the meaning of the word
or the disposition and juxtapostion
of the protagonists in the unfolding drama
for to truly love in this world
you must first lose yourself in the equation
the I no longer exists
only It remains
the essence of divine love
got me now
or do I have to repeat
and are you as lost and blind as ever
on this veiled earthly sojourn
I thought as much he gestured
you are still wrapped up in your own comfort zone
afraid to move and expand
and unwilling to compromise your views
you would rather curl up and die
than ever be thought of as wrong
what is your subjective and truth
in an ever changing environment
your perceived achievements and gains
which run like sand through your fingers
and pales into insignificance and nothingness
in comparison to the weighty measure
of how you accomplished them
how many hearts and spirits
did you break along your self centered way
never knowing there is a price to pay
the chain reaction of good and bad
forcing you to compromise yourself on route
as you discarded your principles and integrity
at the cost of the one you surely love
hidden from remote view
until you learn the enigma
of something you will never hear again
his voice became dim and distant
as he shape shifted into the great beyond
leaving me to ascertain the value of his dialogue
reflecting on his first discourse
a soliloquy with the unknown
Copyright by Peter Paton 2006
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