POSSESSIONS

I am making a songto sing to myself.It is about my possessions.I have a woven hair tie.I have a woven belt.My mother made them for me.My mother gave them to me.They are my possessions.I have silver rings on my fingers.I have silver bracelets on my arms.My father made them for me.My father gave them to me.They are my possessions.Soft thingsand hard thingsI have for my possessions.A song,a song,I am singing a song about them.

I am making a songto sing to myself.

I am making a song

to sing to myself.

It is about my possessions.

I have a woven hair tie.

I have a woven belt.

My mother made them for me.

My mother gave them to me.

They are my possessions.

I have silver rings on my fingers.

I have silver bracelets on my arms.

My father made them for me.

My father gave them to me.

They are my possessions.

Soft thingsand hard thingsI have for my possessions.

Soft things

and hard things

I have for my possessions.

A song,a song,I am singing a song about them.

A song,

a song,

I am singing a song about them.

A storm wind comes to stop my song.It comes through the treeswith the strength of anger.It sways me forward.It sways me backward.It turns me when I am walking.Black clouds gatherto blanket the thunder.Zig-zag lightningcuts the clouds in two.My sheep crowd near me.With soft words I speak to them.I tell themnot to be afraidfor I am here.

A storm wind comes to stop my song.

It comes through the treeswith the strength of anger.

It comes through the trees

with the strength of anger.

It sways me forward.

It sways me backward.

It turns me when I am walking.

Black clouds gatherto blanket the thunder.

Black clouds gather

to blanket the thunder.

Zig-zag lightningcuts the clouds in two.

Zig-zag lightning

cuts the clouds in two.

My sheep crowd near me.

With soft words I speak to them.I tell themnot to be afraidfor I am here.

With soft words I speak to them.

I tell them

not to be afraid

for I am here.

LIGHTNING

Lightning dartslike an arrow,an arrow of fire,from an unseen bow.It darts in flamefrom the gray skyto the gray earth.It strikes a tree.Lightning strikes a tree.My sheep,my sheep,I must save my sheepfrom this evil around them.I must save them,my sheep,my poor frightened sheep.

Lightning dartslike an arrow,an arrow of fire,from an unseen bow.

Lightning darts

like an arrow,

an arrow of fire,

from an unseen bow.

It darts in flamefrom the gray skyto the gray earth.

It darts in flame

from the gray sky

to the gray earth.

It strikes a tree.

Lightning strikes a tree.

My sheep,my sheep,I must save my sheepfrom this evil around them.

My sheep,

my sheep,

I must save my sheep

from this evil around them.

I must save them,my sheep,my poor frightened sheep.

I must save them,

my sheep,

my poor frightened sheep.

FIRE

Fire runs up the tall tree trunkand into the branches.The tree is on fire.The tree is aflame.It blazes.It crackles.It burns.The sheep look to me to protect them.My poor frightened sheep,I do not know which wayto take them.

Fire runs up the tall tree trunkand into the branches.

Fire runs up the tall tree trunk

and into the branches.

The tree is on fire.

The tree is aflame.

It blazes.

It crackles.

It burns.

The sheep look to me to protect them.

My poor frightened sheep,I do not know which wayto take them.

My poor frightened sheep,

I do not know which way

to take them.

But wait!The sky is opening.Rain comes through.Male rain comes through,comes down in sheets of water,pours down in sheets of waterdrenching the flamesof the burning tree.My mother comes runningbetween the trees.She is frightened for the sheepand for me.I tell herall things are good.Lightning did not touch the sheep.Male rain saved the trees from fire.Male rain saved us from forest fire.Now male rain has gonedown into the valley.Female rain followswith soft footsteps.Flowers turn upwardLeaves turn upwardlifting their handsto catch the gentle rain.It is good.The rain is good.I open my handsto catch the gentle rain.

But wait!

The sky is opening.

Rain comes through.

Male rain comes through,comes down in sheets of water,pours down in sheets of waterdrenching the flamesof the burning tree.

Male rain comes through,

comes down in sheets of water,

pours down in sheets of water

drenching the flames

of the burning tree.

My mother comes runningbetween the trees.

My mother comes running

between the trees.

She is frightened for the sheepand for me.

She is frightened for the sheep

and for me.

I tell herall things are good.

I tell her

all things are good.

Lightning did not touch the sheep.

Male rain saved the trees from fire.

Male rain saved us from forest fire.

Now male rain has gonedown into the valley.

Now male rain has gone

down into the valley.

Female rain followswith soft footsteps.

Female rain follows

with soft footsteps.

Flowers turn upward

Leaves turn upwardlifting their handsto catch the gentle rain.

Leaves turn upward

lifting their hands

to catch the gentle rain.

It is good.

The rain is good.

I open my handsto catch the gentle rain.

I open my hands

to catch the gentle rain.

Sun-Bearer parts the cloudsand looks down on the rain.He turns each raindropinto a silver bead.He turns each rainstreakinto a silver necklace.He makes a rainbow pathfor the godsacross the sky.I go among the sheep,the huddled, wet sheep.I sing to them.I sing to the sheep,a song, a song,a song about my possessions,my ceremonial goods.I have a little buckskin bagfilled with things,with things.My grandfather filled it for me.My grandfather gave it to me.Wherever I goI carry my little buckskin bagto keep me safe,to keep my feeton the Trail of Beauty.

Sun-Bearer parts the cloudsand looks down on the rain.

Sun-Bearer parts the clouds

and looks down on the rain.

He turns each raindropinto a silver bead.

He turns each raindrop

into a silver bead.

He turns each rainstreakinto a silver necklace.

He turns each rainstreak

into a silver necklace.

He makes a rainbow pathfor the godsacross the sky.

He makes a rainbow path

for the gods

across the sky.

I go among the sheep,the huddled, wet sheep.

I go among the sheep,

the huddled, wet sheep.

I sing to them.

I sing to the sheep,a song, a song,a song about my possessions,my ceremonial goods.

I sing to the sheep,

a song, a song,

a song about my possessions,

my ceremonial goods.

I have a little buckskin bagfilled with things,with things.

I have a little buckskin bag

filled with things,

with things.

My grandfather filled it for me.

My grandfather gave it to me.

Wherever I goI carry my little buckskin bagto keep me safe,to keep my feeton the Trail of Beauty.

Wherever I go

I carry my little buckskin bag

to keep me safe,

to keep my feet

on the Trail of Beauty.

A song,a song,I am singing a songto my sheep.Just now on the home trail,a young deer,a beautiful young deer,stood in the bushesand looked at me.His eyes were big and darkand full of questions.A song,a song,I am singing a songon the home trail.I have a necklace ofturquoise and coral.I have a necklace ofwhite shell and coral.My grandmother traded for them.My grandmother gave them to me.They are possessions.I have turquoise in my ears,silver bells on my belt fringe.My uncle made them for me.My uncle gave them to me.They are my possessions.A song,a song,I am singing a songto my sheep.My father has five kindsof possessions.He has hard goodsand soft goods,ceremonial goodsand landand game.But I am little.I do not have five kinds.I have three.I made a song about themto sing the sheep home.At last we reach the home camp.The sheep are safe in their corral.I am safe with my mother.Summer shade is at my back.In front of me is my mother's fire.I am dry and warm.Good food is cooking.My mother sings,and all around methere is beauty.

A song,a song,I am singing a songto my sheep.

A song,

a song,

I am singing a song

to my sheep.

Just now on the home trail,a young deer,a beautiful young deer,stood in the bushesand looked at me.

Just now on the home trail,

a young deer,

a beautiful young deer,

stood in the bushes

and looked at me.

His eyes were big and darkand full of questions.

His eyes were big and dark

and full of questions.

A song,a song,I am singing a songon the home trail.

A song,

a song,

I am singing a song

on the home trail.

I have a necklace ofturquoise and coral.

I have a necklace of

turquoise and coral.

I have a necklace ofwhite shell and coral.

I have a necklace of

white shell and coral.

My grandmother traded for them.

My grandmother gave them to me.

They are possessions.

I have turquoise in my ears,silver bells on my belt fringe.

I have turquoise in my ears,

silver bells on my belt fringe.

My uncle made them for me.

My uncle gave them to me.

They are my possessions.

A song,a song,I am singing a songto my sheep.

A song,

a song,

I am singing a song

to my sheep.

My father has five kindsof possessions.

My father has five kinds

of possessions.

He has hard goodsand soft goods,ceremonial goodsand landand game.

He has hard goods

and soft goods,

ceremonial goods

and land

and game.

But I am little.

I do not have five kinds.

I have three.

I made a song about themto sing the sheep home.

I made a song about them

to sing the sheep home.

At last we reach the home camp.

The sheep are safe in their corral.

I am safe with my mother.

Summer shade is at my back.

In front of me is my mother's fire.

I am dry and warm.

Good food is cooking.

My mother sings,and all around methere is beauty.

My mother sings,

and all around me

there is beauty.

My father and my uncleride up from the Trading Post,the Red Rock Trading Postdown near the winter hogan.Long before I heard themI could feel them coming.Long before I saw themI could hear them singing.Now they ride into the firelight,my father and my uncle.My father brought saltand baking powderand lardfor my motherfrom the Trading Post.He brought candyfor me.My father brought news,much news.

My father and my uncleride up from the Trading Post,the Red Rock Trading Postdown near the winter hogan.

My father and my uncle

ride up from the Trading Post,

the Red Rock Trading Post

down near the winter hogan.

Long before I heard themI could feel them coming.

Long before I heard them

I could feel them coming.

Long before I saw themI could hear them singing.

Long before I saw them

I could hear them singing.

Now they ride into the firelight,my father and my uncle.

Now they ride into the firelight,

my father and my uncle.

My father brought saltand baking powderand lardfor my motherfrom the Trading Post.

My father brought salt

and baking powder

and lard

for my mother

from the Trading Post.

He brought candyfor me.

He brought candy

for me.

My father brought news,much news.

My father brought news,

much news.

Things he had seen,things that were told to himat the Trading Post.He brought them backfor us to hear.Then we washed our hands.We sat away from the fire.My mother placed the evening foodbefore us.When we had eatenmy father gave thanksto the Holy Ones.We washed our hands again.My uncle put new wood upon the fire.Then the best part of the day began.My father and my uncle talked.

Things he had seen,things that were told to himat the Trading Post.

Things he had seen,

things that were told to him

at the Trading Post.

He brought them backfor us to hear.

He brought them back

for us to hear.

Then we washed our hands.

We sat away from the fire.

My mother placed the evening foodbefore us.

My mother placed the evening food

before us.

When we had eatenmy father gave thanksto the Holy Ones.

When we had eaten

my father gave thanks

to the Holy Ones.

We washed our hands again.

My uncle put new wood upon the fire.

Then the best part of the day began.

My father and my uncle talked.

My father saidin ten dayswould be the timefor dipping the sheep.He and my unclewould help my mother and medrive the sheep to the dipping.Sheep must be dippedin medicine-water.There is no pollen.There is no Holy Song.There is no Trail of Beautyin this medicine water.But my father saysit is good for the sheep.Sheep get licehidden in their thick wool.Lice make the sheep unhappy.Lice make the sheep bite their wool.Lice are bad for sheep.Dipping the sheepin medicine-waterkills the lice.Ticks are bad for sheep.Ticks liveon the sheep's good blood.Ticks make the sheep thinand weak.

My father saidin ten dayswould be the timefor dipping the sheep.

My father said

in ten days

would be the time

for dipping the sheep.

He and my unclewould help my mother and medrive the sheep to the dipping.

He and my uncle

would help my mother and me

drive the sheep to the dipping.

Sheep must be dippedin medicine-water.

Sheep must be dipped

in medicine-water.

There is no pollen.

There is no Holy Song.

There is no Trail of Beautyin this medicine water.

There is no Trail of Beauty

in this medicine water.

But my father saysit is good for the sheep.

But my father says

it is good for the sheep.

Sheep get licehidden in their thick wool.

Sheep get lice

hidden in their thick wool.

Lice make the sheep unhappy.

Lice make the sheep bite their wool.

Lice are bad for sheep.

Dipping the sheepin medicine-waterkills the lice.

Dipping the sheep

in medicine-water

kills the lice.

Ticks are bad for sheep.

Ticks liveon the sheep's good blood.

Ticks live

on the sheep's good blood.

Ticks make the sheep thinand weak.

Ticks make the sheep thin

and weak.

If the sheep are robbedof their good bloodthey cannot standthe cold of winter.They cannot standthe heat of summer.They sicken.Their wool is not good.Dipping the sheepin medicine-waterkills the lice and the ticks.It is good for the sheep.My mother does not like dippingbecause she does not understandwhy the sheep are dipped.But my father talks to her.He tells her about lice and ticks.He tells her toothat she is quickest and bestof all the womenat dipping her sheepin the medicine-water.

If the sheep are robbedof their good bloodthey cannot standthe cold of winter.

If the sheep are robbed

of their good blood

they cannot stand

the cold of winter.

They cannot standthe heat of summer.

They cannot stand

the heat of summer.

They sicken.

Their wool is not good.

Dipping the sheepin medicine-waterkills the lice and the ticks.

Dipping the sheep

in medicine-water

kills the lice and the ticks.

It is good for the sheep.

My mother does not like dippingbecause she does not understandwhy the sheep are dipped.

My mother does not like dipping

because she does not understand

why the sheep are dipped.

But my father talks to her.

He tells her about lice and ticks.

He tells her toothat she is quickest and bestof all the womenat dipping her sheepin the medicine-water.

He tells her too

that she is quickest and best

of all the women

at dipping her sheep

in the medicine-water.

SHEEP DIPPING

All the peoplewith their sheep and goatsand horses and wagonsand children and dogsgo to the dipping.There is much dust and workand singing and eatingat dipping time.I like it.Sheep do not like dipping.They do not like to take a bathin the medicine-watereven though it is good for them.When grandfather goat gets dippedhe is angry, very angry.He does not liketo get his whiskers wet.Tomorrow, first thing,I will tell old goat, old goat,that in ten daysWashington willwash his whiskers.My father talks of other thingsbesides the dipping.His voice goes on and onlike wind in trees,like water running,like soft rain falling,like drum beats pounding,talk,talk,talking.

All the peoplewith their sheep and goatsand horses and wagonsand children and dogsgo to the dipping.

All the people

with their sheep and goats

and horses and wagons

and children and dogs

go to the dipping.

There is much dust and workand singing and eatingat dipping time.

There is much dust and work

and singing and eating

at dipping time.

I like it.

Sheep do not like dipping.

They do not like to take a bathin the medicine-watereven though it is good for them.

They do not like to take a bath

in the medicine-water

even though it is good for them.

When grandfather goat gets dippedhe is angry, very angry.

When grandfather goat gets dipped

he is angry, very angry.

He does not liketo get his whiskers wet.

He does not like

to get his whiskers wet.

Tomorrow, first thing,I will tell old goat, old goat,that in ten daysWashington willwash his whiskers.

Tomorrow, first thing,

I will tell old goat, old goat,

that in ten days

Washington will

wash his whiskers.

My father talks of other thingsbesides the dipping.

My father talks of other things

besides the dipping.

His voice goes on and onlike wind in trees,like water running,like soft rain falling,like drum beats pounding,talk,talk,talking.

His voice goes on and on

like wind in trees,

like water running,

like soft rain falling,

like drum beats pounding,

talk,

talking.

After a timemy mother and Iunroll our blankets.We go to bedbeneath the cottonwood shade.I have my own prayerto the night.I whisper it,whisper it,but only the night wind hears.The horses movewithin the shadows.My father sings.It is night.The sheep movewithin the circle of branches.My mother sleeps.It is night.

After a timemy mother and Iunroll our blankets.

After a time

my mother and I

unroll our blankets.

We go to bedbeneath the cottonwood shade.

We go to bed

beneath the cottonwood shade.

I have my own prayerto the night.

I have my own prayer

to the night.

I whisper it,whisper it,but only the night wind hears.

I whisper it,

whisper it,

but only the night wind hears.

The horses movewithin the shadows.

The horses move

within the shadows.

My father sings.

It is night.

The sheep movewithin the circle of branches.

The sheep move

within the circle of branches.

My mother sleeps.

It is night.

THE STAR SONG

Softly my father singsthe Star Songto the stars and me."When the world was being made,being made,when the gods wereplacing stars,the stars,the stars in patternsin the sky,coyote stole the star bag,coyote spilled the stars outin the sky,helter skelter in the sky,when the worldwas being made."Softly my father sings it,the Star Song,to the stars and me.Darkness covers me.Beauty covers me.My mother is near.My father is near.The sheep are safe.The words of the Holy Songcome to me,"On top of the mountainI found the gods."It is night.It is night.Happiness comes to me.I sleep.

Softly my father singsthe Star Songto the stars and me.

Softly my father sings

the Star Song

to the stars and me.

"When the world was being made,being made,when the gods wereplacing stars,the stars,the stars in patternsin the sky,coyote stole the star bag,coyote spilled the stars outin the sky,helter skelter in the sky,when the worldwas being made."

"When the world was being made,

being made,

when the gods were

placing stars,

the stars,

the stars in patterns

in the sky,

coyote stole the star bag,

coyote spilled the stars out

in the sky,

helter skelter in the sky,

when the world

was being made."

Softly my father sings it,the Star Song,to the stars and me.

Softly my father sings it,

the Star Song,

to the stars and me.

Darkness covers me.

Beauty covers me.

My mother is near.

My father is near.

The sheep are safe.

The words of the Holy Songcome to me,"On top of the mountainI found the gods."

The words of the Holy Song

come to me,

"On top of the mountain

I found the gods."

It is night.

Happiness comes to me.

I sleep.

Back to Index Next