Back Elk is sick and may be dying, Said the old man to his wife Even now the Holy Man is. singing Mat WakanTanka spare his life. Black Elk was trancelike in a death sleep Dreaming of two men with flaming spears Left him alone and disappeared Then a bay horse stood before him Said, Now my life history you shall see See how all the horses come dancing Come dancing, dancing, dancing, dancing, wild and free Dancing, dancing, dancing, wild and free. Twelve black horses with manes of lightning in the night Twelve white horses with white geese circling, thundering past Twelve sorrel horses with eyes like stars and manes of light Twelve buckskins with horns on their heads and manes of grass Then the horses formed a line of four abreast Bay horse turned his head West and he neighed Sky was like a storm of thundering houses And Little Black Elk was afraid And then the horses changed into all creatures Into every from of life that there could be See how all the horses come dancing Come dancing, dancing, dancing, dancing, wild and free Dancing, dancing, dancing, wild and free
dancing, horse, elk, twelve, mane