Mid-America Prayer
Mid-America Prayer
Original Text
Ortiz, Simon J. Woven Stone. Tucson: The University of Arizona Press, 1992: 289-90.
1Standing again
2within and among all things,
3Standing with each other
4as sisters and brothers, mothers and fathers,
5daughters and sons, grandmothers and grandfathers --
6the past and present generations of our people,
7Standing again
8with and among all items of life,
9the land, rivers, the mountains, plants, animals,
10all life that is around us
11that we are included with,
12Standing within the circle of the horizon,
13the day sky and the night sky,
14the sun, moon, the cycle of seasons
15and the earth mother which sustains us,
16Standing again
17with all things
18that have been in the past,
19that are in the present,
20and that will be in the future
21we acknowledge ourselves
22to be in a relationship that is responsible
23and proper, that is loving and compassionate,
24for the sake of the land and all people;
25we ask humbly of the creative forces of life
26that we be given a portion
27with which to help ourselves so that our struggle
28and work will also be creative
29for the continuance of life,
30Standing again, within, among all things
31we ask in all sincerity, for hope, courage, peace,
32strength, vision, unity and continuance.
Publication Notes
Ortiz, Simon J. Fight Back: For the Sake of the People; For the Sake of the Land. 1980.
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2004