This poet continues to hover on the brink of annihilation. A few hundred dollars and/or a private parking space is needed. Details are available by reviewing the last few posts on this site or by emailing troubadorofverse@gmail.com.

Lakota words here are spelled phonetically for easier purusal by English speaking readers.

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Recorded Reading (1:33): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/kekmvc7jpihfd2txdoce6/All-My-Relations.mp3?rlkey=ie5rekjss1vd47647d004wngs&st=y9no9bra&dl=0

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All My Relations

All cultures finish pray’r with words of pow’r
As from the sacred to the mundane go
‘Mongst the native Lakota they use these
Words prayer to end: “Metaquiase, ho!”

Metaquiase! My relations all!
Be blessed with what’s requested for my own
Benefit — be you benefitted too
Although your blessings’ source remain unknown

Metaquiase! Leave me not alone
And lonely in my sole abundance — give
Each of my brothers what they want and need
By their own lights full happily to live

Metaquiase! Listen to their pleas
When they unto a dear desire give voice
Metaquiase! When good fortune comes
To them, as to myself, I will rejoice

Metaquiase! I want nothing bought
The pain of lovely life companions by
Metaquiase! With this prayer I
To benefit those same companions try

All my relations! You who stand by me
When fortune’s blessings I less surely know
May every single one which comes to me
Come to you too — Metaquiase, ho!

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The poet/editor of this website is physically disabled, and lives at a fraction of her nation’s poverty level.

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