KA-NI-GA SONG
The poor little bee
That lives in the tree,
The poor little bee
That lives in the tree
Has only one arrow
In his quiver.
CORN-GRINDING SONG II (Laguna)
Butterflies, butterflies,
Now fly away to the blossoms,
Fly, blue-wing,
Fly, yellow-wing,
Now fly away to the blossoms,
Fly, red-wing,
Fly white-wing,
Now fly away to the blossoms,
Butterflies, away!
Butterflies, butterflies,
Now fly away to the blossoms,
Butterflies, away!
SONG TO THE TREES AND STREAMS (Pawnee)
I
Dark against the sky, yonder distant line
Lies before us. Trees we see, long the line of trees,
Bending, swaying in the breeze.
II
Bright with flashing light yonder distant line
Runs before us, swiftly runs, swift the river runs,
Winding, flowing over the land.
III
Hark! O hark! A sound, yonder distant sound
Comes to greet us, singing comes, soft the river’s song,
Rippling gently beneath the trees.
SONG TO THE MOUNTAINS (Pawnee)
I
Mountains loom upon the path we take;
Yonder peak now rises sharp and clear;
Behold! It stands with its head uplifted,
Thither we go, since our way lies there.
II
Mountains loom upon the path we take;
Yonder peak now rises sharp and clear;
Behold! We climb, drawing near its summit;
Steeper grows the way and slow our steps.
III
Mountains loom upon the path we take;
Yonder peak that rises sharp and clear,
Behold us now on its head uplifted;
Planting there our feet, we stand secure.
IV
Mountains loom upon the path we take;
Yonder peak that rose so sharp and clear,
Behold us now on its head uplifted;
Resting there at last we sing our song.
RITUAL SONG (Pawnee)
I
Over the prairie flits, in ever widening circles, the shadow of a bird about me as I walk;
Upward turn my eyes, Kawas looks upon me, she turns with flapping wings, and far away she flies.
II
Round about a tree, in ever widening circles, an eagle flies, alertly watching over his nest;
Loudly whistles he, a challenge sending far; over the country wide it echoes, there defying foes.
WIND SONG (Pima)
Far on the desert ridges
Stands the cactus;
Lo, the blossoms swaying
To and fro, the blossoms swaying, swaying.
A SONG OF SPRING (Chippewa)
As my eyes search the prairie,
I feel the summer in the spring.
THE DARKNESS SONG from the invitation rite (Iroquois)
(The chief of the Invitation Rite requests all the night folk of the forest to protect his people on their journey to the morning.)
We wait in the darkness!
Come, all ye who listen,
Help in our night journey:
Now no sun is shining;
Now no star is glowing;
Come show us the pathway:
The night is not friendly;
She closes her eyelids;
The moon has forgot us,
We wait in the darkness!