Crazy Horse Rides Eternally

During a business trip last fall, I had the opportunity to explore the Black Hills in South Dakota for a week. It was October. Custer State Park was void of summer tourists, and filled with an astounding quiet. I visited Mount Rushmore. I spent hours there, trying to grasp the magnitude of the toil that went into carving Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln in a mountain.

I was even more awestruck by Crazy Horse Memorial. I'd read about it, and viewed black and white magazine photos: seeing it first hand, though, was quite moving.

Perhaps it roused me because Crazy Horse Memorial is still a masterpiece in progress; I could see and appreciate the mammoth human task at hand. Maybe the life of Crazy Horse himself stirred me more, though.

Either way, the memorial, and the magnificent Black Hills on a warm October day will stay with me forever.

Crazy Horse Rides Eternally

Soon Crazy Horse will staunchly ride the clouds,
Progressively, he's raised from rock they say;
Eternally, he's cast in nature's shroud.

Evermore, the warrior journeys proud,
A sculptor's vision slowly chipped away,
Soon Crazy Horse will staunchly ride the clouds.

A mountain moves when hopes are thus allowed,
A dreamer will let cards fall where they may;
Eternally, he's cast in nature's shroud.

Lakota leader faced the world unbowed,
And some missteps he bore along the way;
Soon Crazy Horse will staunchly ride the clouds.

Great courage and belief he did avow,
Whatever hand was dealt -- he sternly played;
Eternally, he's cast in nature's shroud.

A deep and moral message stands endowed,
It's truth as clear as breaking of the day.
Soon Crazy Horse will staunchly ride the clouds.
Eternally, he's cast in nature's shroud.