Run...

"Ghost Dance" 

by sweetmango

acrylic on gallery wrap canvas

There was a time faded into the recess of memory now

when the prairie ran before me, feet raising dust

hair held back by wind and speed and dark in the sun

father sun touched my back with warm hands, a familiar friend

I would lift my voice to the sky and sing to Wakan Tanka

in praise for all around me, all before me, all who had walked behind me

we would all stand and raise our voices, our spirits and our feet

in gratitude to life, our life, all life

we sat on the ground to be closer to her, our mother

the eagle would cry, haunting notes drifting to the bending grass from on high

the earth teemed with our animal brothers and sisters

trees like arrows pointing to the big blue sky.

I was strong, I was a part of everything, the circle was whole

the pipe was smoked and passed

now the circle is broken and the people, all the people, wander, lost

some remember running strong and free, their hearts whisper the stories

they find it hard to sit when they do not sit upon their mother earth

they find it hard to live without giving thanks

they drown in a world that has too much yet not enough

they dream of the prairie running before them

I dream of the prairie running before me

and i miss looking into the eyes of my people

Mieylo (it is I)

Mieylo (it is I)

Mieylo (it is I)

for the Lakhota people

for my friends who read this blog

and all the peoples of the world.

Wakan Takan (Wakȟáŋ Tȟáŋka in the Lakhota language) 

is the term for the "sacred" or the "divine". It is often translated as "The Great Spirit". However, its meaning is closer to "Great Mystery" as Lakota spirituality is not monotheistic. Before the attempted conversion to Christianity, Wakȟáŋ Tȟáŋka was used to refer an organization of sacred entities whose ways were mysterious; thus the mean