I came across a piece of literature earlier this week that moved me. Quite honestly, I am not sure how I’ve lived this long with it evading my radar.
“A Poem by Tecumseh” is a more modern retelling of what the Shawnee Indian Chief espoused to his followers in the early 1800s.
Chief Tecumseh was a prominent figure among the Shawnee and the leader of a tribal alliance that stood against the United States in the conflicts known as Tecumseh’s War and the War of 1812.
Tecumseh is often attributed with a poem that is said to encapsulate his philosophy.
This poem, sometimes referred to as “Live Your Life” or “Tecumseh’s Words of Wisdom,” is not historically documented as his own writing but is a modern creation that reflects the spirit and values that Tecumseh espoused.
It has become popular in various self-help circles. Tecumseh was born in 1768 in what is now Ohio. His name literally means “blazing comet.” He was an outspoken resistance leader for the protection of Native lands and fought in numerous famous battles. Early on, Tecumseh was recognized as a passionate and gifted speaker. He spoke about all matters of life and death, the latter of which he was especially qualified to speak about.
When Tecumseh was just six years old, his father was killed in battle. Then he lost his older brother in battle in 1792. Tecumseh himself was also killed in battle— a casualty of the War of 1812. He was 45 years old in 1813 when he was killed at the Battle of Thames. His legacy is one of fierce courage, service and ultimate sacrifice. I came across the poem while doing class prep Monday and it stopped me in my tracks:
“So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours.
Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people. Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.
Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, even a stranger, when in a lonely place. Show respect to all people and grovel to none.
When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself.
Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision.
When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way.
Sing your death song and die like a hero going home.”
The wisdom in these words abounds and the key takeaways are poignant:
1) We must live every day as if it were our last. We should refuse to think about death, but rather, meditate on it daily in such a way that we fully live.
2) We should live in dialogue with spiritual traditions other than our own. A spirit of curiosity, acceptance and non-judgment is the only way to attain true wisdom.
3) We should seek to find our own unique voice. In doing so, it behooves us to speak up fearlessly. According to Tecumseh, finding our true voice is a central purpose of life.
He also said we shouldn’t live to please others. We should love others fiercely.
He claimed a meaningful life is one of service to others and that we should all leave the world better than we found it.
The poem tells us that living in gratitude is the only way to live. Beyond that, living with gratitude is our own responsibility.
He said abuse harms the abuser as well as the abused.
In the end, the theme of the poem is that we only get one life, so don’t hold back.
Tecumseh was the “blazing comet.” But, in a sense, we are all blazing comets— only here briefly until we burn out and extinguish in the end.
Unlike the astrological phenomenon, we can adjust the course we chart.
How will you chart your course in the time we have left?