THE SING
It will be a long time
before the night sky bends down
and the stars hang low
and the supper fires
of the camping people
dot the night.
Our wagon
comes within the circles
of supper fires,
comes within the circle
of firelight,
and I see all the People
who have come to the Sing.
There are many People here.
There are many horses here.
There are many wagons here.
There is one truck.
It makes me happy to see
all of the People
walking around
and standing and sitting.
It makes me happy to see
all the colors that there are
in the skirts of the women
in the shirts of the men
and in the blankets
that all the People wear.
I can see
the horses,
all the horses.
I can see a race horse
that belongs to a man
my uncle knows.
After the Sing is over,
the men will race their horses.
My father will bet
which horse will win.
And then
perhaps
he will win
a better concho belt
than the one
he has in pawn
to the Trader.
There is a new hogan
built just for the Sing.
There are some shelters
built just for the Sing,
and at one side
is the Cook Shade
where all kinds of foods
are cooking.
The smell of food
makes me happy.
I think
it is good
to be happy
when food is near.
As it gets darker
more fires are lighted
and within the circle
a big one burns.
Smoke gets in my eyes
and I can taste it
in my mouth.
In the folds of my mother's blanket,
in the warmth of my
mother's blanket,
in the quiet of my
mother's blanket,
close to her heart
I sleep
and awaken
to hear the Gods,
the Singers of Songs.
Now is the time
for the singing.
Now is the time
for the songs.
We go,
we go,
on the Holy Trail of Song.
We go,
we go,
to hear the voices of the Gods.
They say,
on the path of the rainbow,
they say,
on the bridge of the lightening,
they say
on the trail of pollen
went the Elder Brother,
Reared-in-the-Mountains,
Young Man,
Chief.
We go to hear them say it.
Look! Look!
they say,
they say,
the Gods are walking.
The Gods are walking.
Follow the trail of song.
Hu-Hu-Hu-Hu.
Look! Look!
they say,
they say,
the Gods are dancing.
The Gods are dancing.
Follow the trail of song.
Hu-Hu-Hu-Hu.
Look! Look!
they say,
they say,
the Gods are singing.
The Gods are singing.
Follow the trail of song.
Hu-Hu-Hu-Hu.
It is finished.
The Sing is finished.
Dawn light is here.
Gray light is here.
Morning is here.
Day is here.
The sun comes again
to warm the world.
The Sing is finished.
It is finished.
Finished.
