Grandfather, Great Spirit, once more behold me on earth and lean to hear my feeble voice. Black Elk beholdearthfeeble Change image and share on social
I was four years old then, and I think it must have been the next summer that I first heard the voices. Black Elk hearsummervoice Change image and share on social
They told me I had been sick twelve days, lying like dead all the while, and that Whirlwind Chaser, who was Standing Bear's uncle and a medicine man, had brought me back to life. Black Elk backbearbring Change image and share on social
And when I breathed, my breath was lightning. Black Elk breathbreathelightning Change image and share on social
Also, as I lay there thinking of my vision, I could see it all again and feel the meaning with a part of me like a strange power glowing in my body; but when the part of me that talks would try to make words for the meaning, it would be like fog and get away from me. Black Elk bodyfeelfog share on social
You remember that my great vision came to me when I was only nine years old, and you have seen that I was not much good for anything until after I had performed the horse dance near the mouth of the Tongue River during my eighteenth summer. Black Elk danceeighteenthgood share on social
I know now what this meant, that the bison were the gift of a good spirit and were our strength, but we should lose them, and from the same good spirit we must find another strength. Black Elk bisonfindgift Change image and share on social
I had a vision with which I might have saved my people, but I had not the strength to do it. Black Elk peoplesavestrength Change image and share on social
After the horse dance was over, it seemed that I was above the ground and did not touch it when I walked. Black Elk dancegrindhorse Change image and share on social
To use the power of the bison, I had to perform that part of my vision for the people to see. Black Elk bisonpartpeople Change image and share on social
