Death Song

Live your life that the fear of death

Can never enter your heart.

Trouble no one about his religion.

Respect others in their views

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 of service to your people.

Prepare a noble death song for the day

When you go over the great divide.

Always give a word or sign of salute when meeting

Or passing a friend, or even a stranger, if in a lonely place

Show respect to all people, but grovel to none.

When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light,

For your life, for your strength.

Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living.

If you see no reason to give thanks,

The fault lies in yourself.

Touch not the poisonous firewater
That makes wise ones turn to fools

And robs the spirit of its vision.

When your time comes to die, be not like those

Whose hearts are filled with 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 may you die like a hero going home.