Chief Dan George, born in Canada on July 24, 1899 was chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation in British Columbia. Both a writer and actor, he was 71 when he did the movie Little Big Man, a role that earned him numerous acting awards including a “Best Supporting Actor” Academy Award nomination.
His famous line in the movie was “My heart soars like a hawk,” based in part on his poem “My heart soars.” The poem was recited by Donald Sutherland at the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C. In honor of this year’s Olympians and for Saturday’s Poem, here is Chief George’s,
My Heart Soars
The beauty of the
trees, the softness of the air,
the fragrance of the grass ... speaks to me.
The summit of the mountain, the thunder of the sky,
The rhythm of the sea ... speaks to me.
The faintness of the stars, the freshness of the morning,
the dewdrop on the flower ... speaks to me.
The strength of the fire, the taste of salmon, the trail of the sun,
and the life that never goes away ... they speak to me.
And my heart soars.
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