Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Harriet Monroe, ed. (1860–1936). The New Poetry: An Anthology. 1917.

The Smoke Prayer

Frank 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!

As it were a smoke ascending.