Hoka Hey! Hoka Hey!

 From the first page of 'Black Elk Speaks' subtitled 'Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux' from conversations transcribed in May of 1931 by John G. Neihardt, first published in 1932.



My friend, I am going to tell you the story of my life, as you wish; and if it were only the story of my life I think I would not tell it; for what is one man that he should make much of his winters, even when they bend him like a heavy snow? So many men have lived and shall live that story, to be grass upon the hills.

 It is the story of all life that is holy and good to tell, and of us two-leggeds sharing in it with the four-leggeds and the wings of the air and all green things; for these are children of one mother and their father is Spirit.

This then is not the tale of a great hunter or of a great warrior, or of a great traveler, although I have made much meat in my time and fought for my people both as boy and man, and have gone far and seen strange lands and men. So also have many others done and better than I. These things I shall remember by the way, and often they may seem to be the very tale itself, as when I was living in happiness and sorrow. But now that I can see it all as from a lonely hilltop, I know it was the story of a mighty vision given to a man too weak to use it; of a holy tree that should have flourished in a people's heart with flowers and singing birds and now is withered; and of a people's dream that died in bloody snow.

 But if the vision was true and mighty, as I know, it is true and mighty yet; for such things are of the spirit, and it is in the darkness of their eyes that men get lost.

 So I know it is a good thing that I am going to do; and because no good thing can be done by any man alone, I will first make an offering and send a voice to the Spirit of the World, that it may help me be true. See, I fill this sacred pipe with the bark of the red willow; but before we smoke it, you must see how it is made and what it means. ......

 He goes on to tell the story about how the first pipe came to his people ... it involves a beautiful woman, Bison, and men; both good and bad,  etc..

 Black Elk Was 13 years old at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, he tells the history of those days, as seen through his young eyes. He was a medicine man, nephew of Crazy Horse,  and his people began to recognize his powers early... I found it irresistible reading. I believe that we are getting ready for the days of 'The Holy Tree' to be rediscovered... Anyways powerful fire for the brain. Hoka-Hey! Hoka-Hey!

  A very funny story that perhaps surpasses Mark Twain to make you laugh out loud at 2AM is 'High Horse's Courting' ...

  As I pondered life and where was my Warrior's Spirit... if I had any at all.. last night... any ways get out there into the greatness of the day and try not to burnout my gears with the dreams, thoughts and plans of the evening.