"Child of the forest!--strong and free, Slight-robed, with loosely flowing hair, She swam the lake, or climbed the tree, Or struck the flying bird in air. O'er the heaped drifts of winter's moon Her snow-shoes tracked the hunter's way; And, dazzling in the summer noon, The blade of her light oar threw off its shower of spray!" The "Song of Indian Women," at the close of "The Bridal of Pennacook," is admirable for melody, weird and wild beauty, and naturalness. It is a lament for the lost Weetamoo, who, unfortunate in her married life, has committed suicide by sailing over the rapids in her canoe:-- "The Dark Eye has left us, The Spring-bird has flown; On the pathway of spirits She wanders alone. The song of the wood-dove has died on our shore,-- _Mat wonck kunna-monee!_--We hear it no more! * * * * * O mighty Sowanna! Thy gateways unfold, From thy wigwams of sunset Lift curtains of gold! Take home the poor Spirit whose journey is o'er,-- _Mat wonck kunna-monee!_--We see her no more!" There are two minor Indian poems by Whittier that have the true ring; namely, the "Truce of Piscataqua" and "Funeral Tree of the Sokokis." The latter well-known poem is pitched in as high and solemn a key as Platen's "Grab im Busento," a poem similar in theme to Whittier's:-- "They heave the stubborn trunk aside, The firm roots from the earth divide,-- The rent beneath yawns dark and wide. And there the fallen chief is laid, In tasselled garbs of skins arrayed, And girded with his wampum-braid." _Whittier._ "In der wogenleeren Hoehlung wuehlten sie empor die Erde, Senkten tief hinein den Leichnam, mit der Ruestung auf dem Pferde. Deckten dann mit Erde wieder ihn und seine stolze Habe." _Platen._ In the empty river-bottom hurriedly they dug the death-pit, Deep therein they sank the hero with his armor and his war-steed, Covered then with earth and darkness him and all his splendid trappings.