Austin, Mary. Medicine Song: To Be Sung in Time of Evil Fortune

Austin, Mary. Medicine Song: To Be Sung in Time of Evil Fortune


MEDICINE me,

O Friend-of-the-Soul-of-Man,

With purging waters!

For my soul festers

And an odor of corruption

Betrays me to disaster.




As a place of carrion

Where buzzards are gathered,

So is my path

Overshadowed by evil adventures;

Meanness, betrayal, and spite

Flock under heaven

To make me aware

Of sickness and death within me.



Medicine my soul, O friend,

With waters of cleansing;

Then shall my way shine,

And my nights no longer

Be full of the dreadful sound

Of the wings of unsuccesses.

Found at Native Americans text on line