Sing for your heart, not for applause - An inspirational Native American poem


Song of "Speaks-Fluently"

To have to carry your own corn far — 

who likes it?
To follow the black bear through the thicket — 
who likes it?
To hunt without profit, to return without anything — 
who likes it?
You have to carry your own corn far.
You have to follow the black bear.
You have to hunt without profit.
If not, what will you tell the little ones? What
will you speak of?
For it is bad not to use the talk which God has sent us.
I am Speaks-Fluently. Of all the groups of symbols,
I am a symbol by myself.



My take/notes:

This is a Native American poem from an Osage origin thats sings about hard work.   It is so apt to have a Native American poem talk about the importance of hard work without any anticipation of reward.  It has an uncanny similarity to the prime message of the Bhagwad Gita: do your work without the anticipation of any rewards.  

Yesterday I had dinner at my hotel's bar and was joined by a person who seemed to be in his late 50s.  Through a long conversation as I got to know him better, I found out that his wife has been doing meditation and charity work ever since their son who is now in his mid-20s has been a victim of drug abuse.  I realized that his wife needed to find support to find the gratitude in life, but her husband, the person I was talking to, was less perturbed.  It was because he was busy with his work.  Work therefore is a form of meditation.  Work keeps you busy and prevents the disease of depression from taking over.  

It does not come as a surprise that most religions and spiritual practices encourage hard work.

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