We are now about to take our leave
and
bid
a kind farewell to our native land,
the land that
The Great Spirit
gave our Fathers; we are on the
eve
of leaving
that country that gave us birth ...
It is with
sorrow that we are forced by the
authority
of the white man to quit the
scenes of
our childhood ... we bid a final
farewell to it
and all we hold dear.
George Hicks,
Cherokee leader on the Trail of Tears
November 4, 1838
CHEROKEE TRAVELER'S BLESSING
I WILL DRAW THORNS FROM YOUR FEET.
WE WILL WALK THE WHITE
PATH OF LIFE TOGETHER.
LIKE A BROTHER OF MY OWN BLOOD,
I WILL LOVE YOU.
I WILL WIPE TEARS FROM YOUR EYES.
WHEN YOU ARE SAD,
I WILL PUT YOUR ACHING HEART TO REST
A NATIVE PRAYER
O GREAT SPIRIT
MAKE ME WISE, SO THAT I UNDERSTAND
THE THINGS YOU HAVE TAUGHT MY PEOPLE
LET ME LEARN THE LESSON YOU HAVE
HIDDEN
IN EVERY LEAF AND ROCK
I SEEK STRENGTH, NOT TO BE GREATER
THAN MY BROTHER
BUT TO FIGHT AGAINST
MY GREATEST ENEMY
- MYSELF-
GREAT SPIRIT,
I AM ALIVE!
GREAT SPIRIT YOU ARE ALL
THAT IS AND HAS EVER BEEN!
I WAS BORN TO SAY,
"I LOVE YOU!"
HELP REMIND ME THROUGH THE DAY
THAT LOVE SHOULD BE MY ONLY GOAL,
MY ONLY THOUGHT IN WHAT I DO,
AND MY ONLY INSPIRATION.
FOR WITHOUT LOVE,
I AM LOST,
I AM LONELY.
THE CHEROKEE
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