RITUAL SONG 135 MEDICINE SONG 136 SONG OF THE PRIMAL ROCK 138 INTRODUCTION OF THE CHILD TO THE COSMOS 142 SONG OF TURNING THE CHILD 144 SUPPLICATION OF THE TSÍZHU WASHTÁGE 145 THE TRIBAL PRAYER (OMAHA) 146 WAWAN SONG 147 THE MORNING SONG 148 PART TWO Poetic Forms in American Indian Lyrics 149 NOTES 173 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 183 INDEX 187 AMERICAN INDIAN LOVE LYRICS PART ONE INDIAN LOVE LYRICS AND OTHER VERSE SELECTED FROM THE SONGS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS MY BARK CANOE (_Ojibwa_) In the still night, the long night through, I guide my bark canoe, My love, to you. While the stars shine, and falls the dew, I seek my love in bark canoe— I seek for you. It is I, love, your lover true, Who glides the stream in bark canoe. It glides to you, My love, to you. HER SHADOW (_Ojibwa_) Out on the lake my canoe is gliding, Paddle dipping soft lest she should take alarm; Ah, hey-ah hey-ah ho, hey-ah hey-ah ho, thus I go! Somewhere along shore she is hiding, She is shy to yield to love’s alluring charm; Ah, hey-ah hey-ah ho, hey-ah hey-ah, love will win, I know. There is a shadow swiftly stealing! Should it be her own, soon I will win the race; Ah hey-ah hey-ah ho, hey-ah hey-ah ho, I think it is! Will she but turn, herself revealing, I will shout aloud when-e’er I see her face. Ah! hey-ah hey-ah ho, hey-ah hey-ah ho, There she is! LOVER’S WOOING or BLANKET SONG (_Zuñi_) I O what happiness! How delightful, When together we ’Neath one blanket walk. We together ’Neath one blanket walk, We together ’Neath one blanket walk, We walk. O! What happiness! How delightful, When together we ’Neath one blanket walk. We together, ’Neath one blanket walk, We together, ’Neath one blanket walk, We walk. II Can it be that My young maiden fair Sits awaiting, All alone tonight? Is she waiting For me only? Is she waiting For me only? III May I hope it is My young maiden Sitting all alone And awaiting me; Will she come then? Will she walk with me? ’Neath one blanket We together be, We—we two, we two, We two, we two— Will she come?