Native American Poem
Native American Poem
I give you this one thought to keep.
I am with you still. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on the snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not think of me as gone.
I am with you still in each new dawn.
The preceding poem was written by an unknown author. I often wonder why people who write poems sign off as anonymous. Could it be the one who wrote it just wanted to share their thoughts with the world and not want any kind of fame or fortune? It may be more about being humble in a world where it seems many want a few moments of fleeting fame. Regardless of why it was written or why the poem remains anonymous isn’t the point of this writing. It is more about the deeper meaning of what happens after we die.
When we die, the earth will continue to rotate on its axis, the sun will rise and set, the day will begin and end, rain, wind, and nature will continue. What becomes of who and what we were has always been the question. The cherished possessions we had will remain and pass into the hands of another, or in a thrift or antique store or perhaps a landfill. We don’t get to make the choice when it comes to the material things. We do get to make a choice in what becomes of our memory after we are gone.
How so you are asking yourself by now. The answer is this, we are social beings, we have an innate need to be accepted, cherished, loved, etc. We fulfill these needs with social interaction, we seek out others who have similar interests, we attend life events, social events and hopefully we have lifelong relationships with others.
As we grow older our social groups grow smaller, it seems we are attending more funerals or memorial gatherings. There are still life events and moments but there are those who are no longer with us in the physical world. Yet as the poem tells us they are still with us in each new day.
