Let Me Walk in Beauty

Oh, Great Spirit,
whose voice I hear in the winds
and whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me.
I need your strength and wisdom.

Let me walk in beauty and let my eyes
ever behold the red and purple sunset.
Let my hands respect the things you have made
and my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Let me learn the lessons you have hidden
in every leaf and rock.

Let me always be ready to come to you
with clean hands and straight eyes,
so when life fades, as the fading sunset,
my spirit will come to you
without shame.

Adapted from a Lakota prayer
attributed to Chief Yellow Lark, 1887