Live Your Life

I came across the Tecumseh poem “Live Your Life” whilst checking for something else. 

The chief:

Having now looked up quite a number of sources on the net, I am unable to say whether the poem was actually written by him or a later invention attributed to him. There are no debunking items and nothing to suggest that the work is not his, plus a Wikipedia bio states “Tecumseh was among the most celebrated Native American leaders in history and was known as a strong and eloquent orator who promoted tribal unity.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tecumseh

Tecumseh (1768 – 1813) was a Native American Shawnee warrior and chief, who became the primary leader of a large, multi-tribal confederacy in the early 19th century. The man was amazing for what he achieved, what he envisaged and what he did. Click on the above link to read his bio. 

The poem:

In the meantime, here are some words by Chief Tecumseh.  Whether he wrote them or someone else did, they still make a lot of sense . . .

Live Your Life

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,

and 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 1768-1813