Tecumseh Death Poem
So live your life that the fear of death
can never enter your heart.
Trouble no one about their religion;
respect others in their view, and
demand that they respect yours.
Love your life, perfect your life,
beautify all things in your life.
Seek to make your life long and
its purpose in the service of your people.
Prepare a noble death song for the day
when you go over the great divide.
Always give a word or a sign of salute
when meeting or passing a friend,
even a stranger, when in a lonely place.
Show respect to all people and grovel to none.
When you arise in the morning
give thanks for the food and for the joy of living.
If you see no reason for giving thanks,
the fault lies only in yourself.
Abuse no one and no thing,
for abuse turns the wise ones to fools
and robs the spirit of its vision.
When it comes your time to die,
be not like those whose hearts are filled
with the fear of death,
so that when their time comes they weep
and pray for a little more time
to live their lives over again in a different way.
Sing your death song and
die like a hero going home.
- Chief Tecumseh, Shawnee Nation, 1768-1813 -
