Indian Prayer to the Mountain Spirit
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
Holding up the harvest,
Keeper of the strong rocks
Hear a prayer for staunchness.
Young Man, Chieftain,
Spirit of the Mountain!
Interpreted by [signed] Mary Austin