I translated these Native American poems and proverbs when my father, Paul Ray Burch Jr., chose to end his life by declining to submit to dialysis treatments and enter hospice. Cherokee Travelers' Blessing I loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch I will extract the thorns from your feet. Yet a little longer, we will walk life's sunlit paths together. I will love you like my own brother, my own blood. When you are disconsolate, I will wipe the tears from your eyes. And when you are too sad to live, I will put your aching heart to rest. Published by Better Than Starbucks, Setu (India), DailyKos, Opera News, A Hundred Voices and The Cherokee Native Americans and Their Descendants Cherokee Travelers' Blessing II loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Happily may you walk in the paths of the Rainbow. Oh, and may it always be beautiful before you, beautiful behind you, beautiful below you, beautiful above you, and beautiful all around you where in Perfection beauty is finished. Set to music by Patricia Falanga, a compiler of American music; published by Better Than Starbucks, Setu (India), DailyKos, Opera News, and A Hundred Voices Cherokee Travelers' Blessing III loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch May Heaven’s warming winds blow gently there, where you reside, and may the Great Spirit bless all those you love, this side of the farthest tide. And wherever you go, whether the journey is fast or slow, may your moccasins leave many cunning footprints in the snow. And when you look over your shoulder, may you always find the Rainbow. Published by Better Than Starbucks, Setu (India), DailyKos, Opera News, and A Hundred Voices Sioux Vision Quest by Crazy Horse loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch A man must pursue his Vision as the eagle explores the sky's deepest blues. Published by Better Than Starbucks, Setu (India), A Hundred Voices Native American Travelers' Blessing loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Let us walk respectfully here among earth's creatures, great and small, remembering, our footsteps light, that one wise God created all. Published by A Hundred Voices, Setu (India) Native American Prayer loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Help us learn the lessons you have left us here in every leaf and rock. Published by A Hundred Voices, Setu (India) Cherokee Prayer loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch As I walk life's trails imperiled by the raging wind and rain, grant, O Great Spirit, that yet I may always walk like a man. This prayer makes me think of Native Americans walking the Trail of Tears with far more courage and dignity than their “civilized” abusers. Cherokee Proverb loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Before you judge a man for his sins be sure to trudge many moons in his moccasins. Published by A Hundred Voices Native American Warrior’s Confession loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Oh my love, how fair you are— far brighter than the fairest star! The Receiving of the Flower excerpt from a Mayan love poem loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Let us sing overflowing with joy as we observe the Receiving of the Flower. The lovely maidens beam; their hearts leap in their breasts. Why? Because they will soon yield their virginity to the men they love! The Deflowering excerpt from a Mayan love poem loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Remove your clothes; let down your hair; become as naked as the day you were born— virgins! Native American Proverbs loose translations/interpretations by Michael R. Burch Never judge a man until you’ve trudged many moons in his moccasins. –Native American saying, translation by Michael R. Burch When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice. –White Elk, translation by Michael R. Burch The soul would see no Rainbows if not for the eyes’ tears. –Native American saying, translation by Michael R. Burch A brave man dies but once, a coward many times. –Native American saying, translation by Michael R. Burch A woman’s highest calling is to help her man unite with the Source. A man’s highest calling is to help his woman walk the earth unharmed. –Native American saying, translation by Michael R. Burch Help us learn the lessons you have left us, in every leaf and rock. –Native American saying, translation by Michael R. Burch Originally published by The HyperTexts What is life? The flash of a firefly. The breath of a winter buffalo. The shadow scooting across the grass that vanishes with sunset. —Blackfoot saying, translation by Michael R. Burch Speak less thunder, wield more lightning. — Apache proverb, translation by Michael R. Burch The more we wonder, the more we understand. — Arapaho proverb, translation by Michael R. Burch Adults talk, children whine. — Blackfoot proverb, translation by Michael R. Burch Don’t be afraid to cry: it will lessen your sorrow. — Hopi proverb One foot in the boat, one foot in the canoe, and you end up in the river. — Tuscarora proverb, translation by Michael R. Burch Our enemy's weakness increases our strength. — Cherokee proverb, translation by Michael R. Burch We will be remembered tomorrow by the tracks we leave today. — Dakota proverb, translation by Michael R. Burch No sound's as eloquent as a rattlesnake's tail. — Navajo saying, translation by Michael R. Burch The heart is our first teacher. — Cheyenne proverb, translation by Michael R. Burch Dreams beget success. — Maricopa proverb, translation by Michael R. Burch Knowledge interprets the past, wisdom foresees the future. — Lumbee proverb, translation by Michael R. Burch The troublemaker's way is thorny. — Umpqua proverb, translation by Michael R. Burch When Pigs Fly by Michael R. Burch On the Trail of Tears, my Cherokee brothers, why hang your heads? Why shame your mothers? Laugh wildly instead! We will soon be dead. When we lie in our graves, let the white-eyes take the woodlands we loved for the hoe and the rake. It is better to die than to live out a lie in so narrow a sty. Keywords/Tags: Native American, translation, American Indian, Cherokee, Sioux, Mayan, blessing, blessings, proverb, proverbs, saying, sayings
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