Prayer to the Mountain Spirit
From the Navajo
Lord of the Mountain,
Reared within the Mountain,
Young Man, Chieftain,
Hear a young man's prayer!
Hear a prayer for cleanness.
Keeper of the strong rain
Drumming on the mountain,
Lord of the small rain
That restores the earth in newness,
Keeper of the clean rain,
Hear a prayer for wholeness.
Young Man, Chieftain,
Hear a prayer for fleetness.
Keeper of the deer's way,
Reared among the eagles,
Clear my feet of slothness.
Keeper of the paths of men,
Hear a prayer for straightness.
Hear a prayer for braveness.
Lord of the thin peaks,
Reared amid the thunders,
Keeper of the headlands
That uphold the earth in harvest,
Keeper of the strong rocks
Hear a prayer for staunchness.
Young Man, Chieftain,
Spirit of the Mountain! .
Structure
28 lines · 7 stanzas