The Acorn-Planter: A California Forest Play (1916)

Name: The Acorn-Planter: A California Forest Play (1916)
Author: London, Jack

London, Jack

Indians of North America -- Drama

{Red Cloud}
     _(Indicating War Chief.)_
     In war he commands.

     {Sun Man}
     _(Addressing the Nishinam)_
     Nor am I a Shaman. But I will tell you true
     things to be. Our brothers are acorn-planters,
     cloth-weavers, iron-workers. Our brothers are
     life-makers and masters of life. Many are our
     brothers and strong. They will come after us.
     Your First Man has spoken true words. When
     you plant blood you harvest blood. Our brothers
     will come to the harvest with the thunder
     in their hands. There is a sign. This night,
     and soon, will the Wolf of Darkness eat the
     moon. And by that sign will our brothers come
     on the trail we have broken.

     _(As final preparation for the killing is
     completed, and as Hunters are arranged
     with their bows and arrows,
     Sun Man sings.)_

     {Sun Man}
     Our brothers will come after,
        On our trail to farthest lands;
     Our brothers will come after
        With the thunder in their hands.

     {Sun Men}
           Loud will be the weeping,
           Red will be the reaping,
           High will be the heaping
        Of the slain their law commands.

     {Sun Man}
     Givers of law, our brothers,
        This is the law they say:
     Who takes the life of a brother
        Ten of the slayers shall pay.

     {Sun Men}
     Our brothers will come after,
        On our trail to farthest lands;
     Our brothers will come after
        With the thunder in their hands.
           Loud will be the weeping,
           Red will be the reaping,
           High will be the heaping
        Of the slain their law commands.

     {Sun Man}
     Our brothers will come after
        By the courses that we lay;
     Many and strong our brothers,
        Masters of life are they.

     {Sun Men}
     Our brothers will come after
        On our trail to farthest lands;
     Our brothers will come after
        With the thunder in their hands.
           Loud will be the weeping,
           Red will be the reaping,
           High will be the heaping
        Of the slain their law commands.

     {Sun Man}
     Plowers of land, our brothers,
        Of the hills and pleasant leas;
     Under the sun our brothers
        With their keels will plow the seas.

     {Sun Men}
     Our brothers will come after,
        On our trail to farthest lands;
     Our brothers will come after
        With the thunder in their hands.
           Loud will be the weeping,
           Red will be the reaping,
           High will be the heaping
        Of the slain their law commands.

     {Sun Man}
     Mighty men are our brothers,
        Quick to forgive and to wrath,
     Sailing the seas, our brothers
        Will follow us on our path.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Acorn-Planter: A California Forest Play (1916)

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