Across the Spectrum:The Interdisciplinary Life and Letters of John G. Neihardt (‘Flaming Rainbow’)

Flaming Rainbow - How Kola!

Well, you have me hanging on the rope. I must get a copy of "When the Tree Flowered" — I've just finished reading the "Cycle of the West" and rereading "Black Elk Speaks" and now I must see how you handle the "mysteries", the "feel" for and of the people, as I understand in the essence of the stories told in "When the Tree Flowered".

Thank you for your kind reply to my letter of introduction. I note that it was written Sept. 21st - the day that I submitted to surgery here in Tempe. Then on Sunday, Sept. 25th, I seemed to have a mild heart attack! So, I am in the midst of a rather long enforced "rest". Fortunately all is going well so that since October 2nd I have been able to continue my recuperation at home. This of course gave me an opportunity to again read your works mentioned above - and to read them slowly, thoughtfully, with time to reread passages for the real savoring of thoughts and "atmosphere", or "mood" creating word assembly. Altogether, a grand and pleasurable experience. What a master of the word, what a singer of the epic mood, what a story teller you are — Tae-Nuga-Zhinga!

With all the references to familiar names and places as well as events in both the Song of the Indian Wars and the Song of the Messiah bringing back to mind stories told to me by Henry Black Elk, James [Mesbeth?], Dewey Beard, Edward Owl King, William Fire Thunder and others — I repeatedly was struck by the feeling that I was reading "family" history.

It, however, was in the rereading of "Black Elk Speaks" that I was most impressed by the effect of time and experience changing ones reaction to or understanding of an authors work. Some 15 or 20 years ago when I first read "Black Elk Speaks" — I was young and busy with "a dream" of my own. The dream? To bring reality, efficiency, equality and some degree of business commmon sense into the Federal Service! So, while I found it very interesting and informative as well as useful to me in having some understanding of the "long hairs" I met from time to time — I now am certain that I failed to grasp the greater meaning and significance of the Flaming Rainbow [Tepe?] in the Clouds, the Six Grandfathers, the Black and Red Roads, and the Protecting Tree.

Now — the past ten days or so — as I reread the quite often familiar chapters — I was amazed to find new meaning and depth to my feeling of understanding and empathy with Black Elk — a man with a vision who found himself unable to fulfill its promise or to fully use the "powers" of his vision! How I could give with him — while reading his story I was passing the anniversary of my 24th year in Federal Service — nothing that my dream was ^seemingly as useful filled as Black Elk's vision!

Someday when we get to know one another better I hope I shall be able to tell you of my visit to the Spirit World in an episode with the "shade" of Black Hawk! The famous Sac & Fox leader of the 1830's.

What a moving, dramatic, "goose pimple raising", emotional experience that must have been when you were with Black Elk on Harney Peak! God! I can taste my "want" to have been with you. In matters of this nature I have great respect for the sincerity, confiction, and integrity of the old time so called "long hair". Like Ben Riefel used to say "Hell, Nelson you're more Indian than I am!" Well, maybe he is right — for in him I see an example of the terrible price paid by Indians to succeed in our Culture — the destroying of their pride in their ancestors and cultural patterns. He tells me he had to "learn" it all over again — after our schools had finally convinced him that there "was nothing good that was Indian"

So much for the "preaching"!

While "reading" in the hospital I "doodled" around with some colored pencils — two shirts of which I'm forwarding here with for your critical comment — if you could find time! Since you were "on the ground" so many years before me, you may have actually seen authentic "ghost shirts". If my sketches are anywhere near to depicting the real thing — I would like to work up some drawings from them to add color to a Black Elk display on the wall of my den.

It always seems I come begging and imploring on your time and that I have to little to "give" in return.

Thank you — Flaming Rainbow!

In anticipation of our redezvous this winter.

P.S. I'm enclosing a self addressed stamped envelope for your use should you wish to advise me on the sketch plans