"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."--Nicholas Black Elk (1863-1950) on the Battle at Wounded Knee
I saw this yesterday on the train, perhaps the same one, and was transfixed. Amazing. This needs to be included in the history textbooks.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you posted this. I saw it this evening and immediately related to it. Something to keep and to share.
ReplyDeleteThis has profound meaning, It is most appropriate given the state of current global violence.
ReplyDeleteWow. Saw this yesterday on the R train downtown and then googled it today and...got this blog. I share the sentiments with you and the other commenters. The only variation I'll offer is that its wisdom reflects a view on human nature, not one particular class/race and not one epoch.
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http://meadonmanhattan.wordpress.com/
I loved it the very first time I saw it on D train to CI :D love you for posting it
ReplyDeleteI saw it on the train and immediately want to refer to it in my new fictional novel. It is the core of what I have been writing about.
ReplyDeleteI love it and looking forward to read more from Nicholas Black Elk
ReplyDeleteI was on the train and saw it today. I felt that I have reached a lonely hill top as well. Now it is me and my hand that touches the sky. Nicholas Black Elk was a great find today, a gift.
ReplyDeleteI saw this today, and here I am joining the conversation. It truly is timeless and touches many. Thanks for posting it.
ReplyDeletei, like most of the bloggers writing here saw it on the train. I immediately was engulfed with it's profoundness. I don't know if someone else changed this quote, or if was me, but this is what i wrote on my pages:
ReplyDelete"Now that I can see it all as from a lonely hilltop
I know it was the story of a mighty talent given to a woman too weak to use it;