The Death Song of Tecumseh

[northwestmagpie]

(Note: there is nothing that can directly attribute this speech to Tecumseh, who was chief of the Shawnee Nation. However, as noted by Amy Sturgis, who has written several books about Tecumseh, the sentiments strongly correlate with those he expressed during his lifetime.)


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.

- attributed to Tecumseh* (1768?-1813), Shawnee Nation