An Indian Prayer

My grandfather is the fire. My grandmother is the wind. The Earth is my mother. The Great Spirit is my father. The World stopped at my birthand laid itself at my feet, And I shall swallow the Earth whole when I die, and the Earth and I will be one.

Hail The Great Spirit, my father, without him no one could exist because there would be no will to live. Hail The Earth, my mother, without which no food could be grown and so cause the will to live to starve. Hail the wind, my grandmother, for she brings loving, lifegiving rain nourishing us as she nourishes our crops. Hail the fire, my grandfather, for the light, the warmth, the comfort he brings without which we be animals, not men.

Hail my parent and grandparents without which not I nor you nor anyone else could have existed. Life gives life which gives unto itself a promise of new life. Hail the Great Spirit, The Earth, the wind, the firep raise my parents loudly for they are your parents, too. Oh, Great Spirit, giver of my life please accept this humble offering of prayer this offering of praise this honest reverence of my love for you. . . . . . . . . .