Harriet Monroe, ed. (1860–1936). The New Poetry: An Anthology. 1917.
The Smoke PrayerFrank S. Gordon
In the Land of the Dacotahs
The voice of a youth crying,
As it were a thin blue smoke
Ascending:
Great Mystery,
Do thou partake of this food
And still be gracious;
Make it unto me sinew of flesh,
Sinew of arm and the strong heart!
Thou who paintest the mountains black—
Behold, they stand as flint;
Thou who singest to the four winds—
And lo, they dancing, sing:
Partake of this food and be thou gracious!
O great sheet of blue sky,
See me standing here,
Hear me crying here!
I have heard the voice of my fathers,
I have recited the deeds of my fathers,
I have done the commands of my fathers—
Be thou gracious,
Unto me give the heart of my fathers!
My limbs—they are the deer’s—
I have not smoked the fragrant plant;
My limbs—they are the brown deer’s—
I have not eaten the broth of weakness;
My limbs—they are the fleet brown deer’s—
I have not sung the love song.
O thou holy and great Mystery,
Be thou gracious!—
Give unto me the heart of flint—
I have spoken with the straight tongue;
Give unto me the heart of deer—
I have spoken with my timber brothers;
Give unto me the heart of flowers—
I have spoken with the sprig of sage.
Thou who hidest the nest of the moon,
Give unto me the heart of eagle:
That my people may find me filled
In my days of fasting;
That my enemy find me valiant
In my days of combat;
That thou find me reverent
Before the east wind,
Before the south wind,
Before thee, O sheet of blue sky.
Behold, I stand,
My face uplifted,
My hands up-raised,
My soul in nakedness before thee!