Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte

Dear Susan

A plant deprived of the sun
Can not change it’s location
Nor its surroundings
It can not change the time
Nor when it will rain

Our people deprived of our life
Can not sing our songs with pride
Can not change those around us
Can not call for earth, air, water, nor fire
Can not summon destruction

A plant deprived of the sun
Will be in the shade and learn
To reach the sun
It must forget its shape
And break through the canopy to touch the light

Our people deprived of our life
In this western world will learn
To prosper in adversity
We must forget our body
eat their bread, and drink their wine
don their clothes, mimic their hair
laugh in their parties, learn from their people
And break through the limits to be the light



Return 

I hear the song that echoes inside me
Take off your dresses, stretch your tired feet
Let down your hair, show your true skin
Run back to the place the heart of “begin”

Chasing education, was not in vain
Thirteen-hundred, i’ll rid your pain
I'll rise with the sun, outlive the moon
And keep our beating hearts in tune

I’ll protect you, be your shield
We will wake to flourishing fields
I'll be the sun, the light for the seeds
Shine so bright, and blaze disease

Now you grow, not in hiding
Beautifully blooming, the warmth guiding
I will share, what I have learned
And soon you’ll find, a flame that burns
A glow starting inside you to ignite what my father tried to
brilliant, when you shine on others
Golden hues, brings sisters and brothers