The Sea-gull: The Legend Of The Pictured Rocks Of Lake Superior, Ojibway Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BCDEDFEEEEGHEEIII JBEBIEDDHDIEEKIDDIBB IJEKIIEIEKKEIIBDEEEI KEKEEBKEEDEILBEM BBKBBI NOKDNDNN K OPOPOOLLOO LEQBKIIEDIRLEDEILLII IIIDEBEIKIISDKES IEEIKIIDIEEGIEIBEEBI EEBIDDDDDEBEBEETDDBJ EBDBIDLBDD BEIBBEBIEDBIDDEEIIDI IIEDBIIBBEB JIEBBEETDDBJJLEBEBBE BBDD EEEBBBBDDIDB DBBEBDDIEETIDJBE EEEETEDBEIBIDDDDIBED EDDIBDBBB BEBBELIEDDIDIDIEEEE BBDDIDBDIDDEDDLLDEEE EDIEBEDIIIDBDDDIIEDE IEBBEDEDDIBEIIE BDEEEIIEDIDIIIE EIDB IDDUDD LDIDV IDHBBBIUDI BEIIEUIIBREIBDD BEDDDDEUDEUI UDBBDDWBDIIUBE XIBBDIEDUDDD BEJIDDJUIBDIUIEDBDDI DDJ DBEEBDXEIBDXDDIIDIBD DEEBEEIDBDD BDBUE DIIIBDUDIU DJIIIJBEEE EIDDDEBEBBBDIEBBBBDB DDEEDBB IUEBEBBUBJDIEEEEBIDI EBBDIBEDIDIB DBIIUJDJIIIEBIBEIEIJ ED IEBBIDDIDDJ EEBBDUE DYEIEIJBUBBEBDD DEBDDJEBDD BBJEEBDXEEDDIEBBDBEB DDBIBDDBID

In the measure of Hiawatha	A
	-
	-
On the shore of Gitchee Gumee	B
Deep mysterious mighty waters	C
Where the manitoes the spirits	D
Ride the storms and speak in thunder	E
In the days of Neme Shomis	D
In the days that are forgotten	F
Dwelt a tall and tawny hunter	E
Gitchee Pez ze u the Panther	E
Son of Waub Ojeeg the warrior	E
Famous Waub Ojeeg the warrior	E
Strong was he and fleet as roebuck	G
Brave was he and very stealthy	H
On the deer crept like a panther	E
Grappled with Makwa the monster	E
Grappled with the bear and conquered	I
Took his black claws for a necklet	I
Took his black hide for a blanket	I
	-
When the Panther wed the Sea Gull	J
Young was he and very gladsome	B
Fair was she and full of laughter	E
Like the robin in the spring time	B
Sang from sunrise till the sunset	I
For she loved the handsome hunter	E
Deep as Gitchee Gumee's waters	D
Was her love as broad and boundless	D
And the wedded twain were happy	H
Happy as the mated robins	D
When their first born saw the sunlight	I
Joyful was the heart of Panther	E
Proud and joyful was the mother	E
All the days were full of sunshine	K
All the nights were full of starlight	I
Nightly from the land of spirits	D
On them smiled the starry faces	D
Faces of their friends departed	I
Little moccasins she made him	B
Feathered cap and belt of wampum	B
From the hide of fawn a blanket	I
Fringed with feathers soft as sable	J
Singing at her pleasant labor	E
By her side the tekenagun	K
And the little hunter in it	I
Oft the Panther smiled and fondled	I
Smiled upon the babe and mother	E
Frolicked with the boy and fondled	I
Tall he grew and like his father	E
And they called the boy the Raven	K
Called him Kak kah ge the Raven	K
Happy hunter was the Panther	E
From the woods he brought the pheasant	I
Brought the red deer and the rabbit	I
Brought the trout from Gitchee Gumee	B
Brought the mallard from the marshes	D
Royal feast for boy and mother	E
Brought the hides of fox and beaver	E
Brought the skins of mink and otter	E
Lured the loon and took his blanket	I
Took his blanket for the Raven	K
Winter swiftly followed winter	E
And again the tekenagun	K
Held a babe a tawny daughter	E
Held a dark eyed dimpled daughter	E
And they called her Waub omee mee	B
Thus they named her the White Pigeon	K
But as winter followed winter	E
Cold and sullen grew the Panther	E
Sat and smoked his pipe in silence	D
When he spoke he spoke in anger	E
In the forest often tarried	I
Many days and homeward turning	L
Brought no game unto his wigwam	B
Only brought his empty quiver	E
Brought his dark and sullen visage	M
	-
Sad at heart and very lonely	B
Sat the Sea Gull in the wigwam	B
Sat and swung the tekenagun	K
Sat and sang to Waub omee mee	B
Thus she sang to Waub omee mee	B
Thus the lullaby she chanted	I
	-
Wa wa wa wa wa we yea	N
Kah ween nee zheka ke diaus ai	O
Ke gah nau wai ne me go s'ween	K
Ne baun ne baun ne daun is ais	D
Wa wa wa wa wa we yea	N
Ne baun ne baun ne daun is ais	D
E we wa wa wa we yea	N
E we wa wa wa we yea	N
	-
TRANSLATION	K
	-
Swing swing little one lullaby	O
Thou'rt not left alone to weep	P
Mother cares for you she is nigh	O
Sleep my little one sweetly sleep	P
Swing swing little one lullaby	O
Mother watches you she is nigh	O
Gently gently wee one swing	L
Gently gently while I sing	L
E we wa wa lullaby	O
E we wa wa lullaby	O
	-
Homeward to his lodge returning	L
Kindly greeting found the hunter	E
Fire to warm and food to nourish	Q
Golden trout from Gitchee Gumee	B
Caught by Kah kah ge the Raven	K
With a snare he caught the rabbit	I
Caught Wabose the furry footed	I
Caught Penay the forest drummer	E
Sometimes with his bow and arrows	D
Shot the red deer in the forest	I
Shot the squirrel in the pine top	R
Shot Ne ka the wild goose flying	L
Proud as Waub Ojeeg the warrior	E
To the lodge he bore his trophies	D
So when homeward turned the Panther	E
Ever found he food provided	I
Found the lodge fire brightly burning	L
Found the faithful Sea Gull waiting	L
You are cold she said and famished	I
Here are fire and food my husband	I
Not by word or look he answered	I
Only ate the food provided	I
Filled his pipe and pensive puffed it	I
Sat and smoked in sullen silence	D
Once her dark eyes full of hunger	E
Thus she spoke and thus besought him	B
Tell me O my silent Panther	E
Tell me O beloved husband	I
What has made you sad and sullen	K
Have you met some evil spirit	I
Met some goblin in the forest	I
Has he put a spell upon you	S
Filled your heart with bitter waters	D
That you sit so sad and sullen	K
Sit and smoke but never answer	E
Only when the storm is on you	S
	-
Gruffly then the Panther answered	I
Brave among the brave is Panther	E
Son of Waub Ojeeg the warrior	E
And the brave are ever silent	I
But a whining dog is woman	K
Whining ever like a coward	I
Forth into the tangled forest	I
Threading through the thorny thickets	D
Treading trails on marsh and meadow	I
Sullen strode the moody hunter	E
Saw he not the bear or beaver	E
Saw he not the elk or roebuck	G
From his path the red fawn scampered	I
But no arrow followed after	E
From his den the sly wolf listened	I
But no twang of bow string heard he	B
Like one walking in his slumber	E
Listless dreaming walked the Panther	E
Surely had some witch bewitched him	B
Some bad spirit of the forest	I
	-
When the Sea Gull wed the Panther	E
Fair was she and full of laughter	E
Like the robin in the spring time	B
Sang from sunrise till the sunset	I
But the storms of many winters	D
Sifted frost upon her tresses	D
Seamed her tawny face with wrinkles	D
Not alone the storms of winters	D
Seamed her tawny face with wrinkles	D
Twenty winters for the Panther	E
Had she ruled the humble wigwam	B
For her haughty lord and master	E
Borne the burdens on the journey	B
Gathered fagots for the lodge fire	E
Tanned the skins of bear and beaver	E
Tanned the hides of moose and red deer	T
Made him moccasins and leggins	D
Decked his hood with quills and feathers	D
Colored quills of Kaug the thorny	B
Feathers from Kenew the eagle	J
For a warrior brave was Panther	E
Often had he met the foemen	B
Met the bold and fierce Dakotas	D
Westward on the war path met them	B
And the scalps he won were numbered	I
Numbered seven by Kenew feathers	D
Sad at heart was Sea Gull waiting	L
Watching waiting in the wigwam	B
Not alone the storms of winters	D
Sifted frost upon her tresses	D
	-
Ka be bon ik ka the mighty	B
He that sends the cruel winter	E
He that turned to stone the Giant	I
From the distant Thunder mountain	B
Far across broad Gitchee Gumee	B
Sent his warning of the winter	E
Sent the white frost and Kewaydin	B
Sent the swift and hungry North wind	I
Homeward to the South the Summer	E
Turned and fled the naked forests	D
With the Summer flew the robin	B
Flew the bobolink and blue bird	I
Flock wise following chosen leaders	D
Like the shaftless heads of arrows	D
Southward cleaving through the ether	E
Soon the wild geese followed after	E
One long moon the Sea Gull waited	I
Watched and waited for her husband	I
Till at last she heard his footsteps	D
Heard him coming through the thicket	I
Forth she went to met her husband	I
Joyful went to greet her husband	I
Lo behind the haughty hunter	E
Closely following in his footsteps	D
Walked a young and handsome woman	B
Walked the Red Fox from the island	I
Gitchee Menis the Grand Island	I
Followed him into the wigwam	B
Proudly took her seat beside him	B
On the Red Fox smiled the hunter	E
On the hunter smiled the woman	B
	-
Old and wrinkled was the Sea Gull	J
Good and true but old and wrinkled	I
Twenty winters for the Panther	E
Had she ruled the humble wigwam	B
Borne the burdens on the journey	B
Gathered fagots for the lodge fire	E
Tanned the skins of bear and beaver	E
Tanned the hides of moose and red deer	T
Made him moccasins and leggins	D
Decked his hood with quills and feathers	D
Colored quills of Kaug the thorny	B
Feathers from the great war eagle	J
Ever diligent and faithful	J
Ever patient ne'er complaining	L
But like all brave men the Panther	E
Loved a young and handsome woman	B
So he dallied with the danger	E
Dallied with the fair Algonkin	B
Till a magic mead she gave him	B
Brewed of buds of birch and cedar	E
Madly then he loved the woman	B
Then she ruled him then she held him	B
Tangled in her raven tresses	D
Tied and tangled in her tresses	D
	-
Ah the tall and tawny Panther	E
Ah the brave and brawny Panther	E
Son of Waub Ojeeg the warrior	E
With a slender hair she led him	B
With a slender hair she drew him	B
Drew him often to her wigwam	B
There she bound him there she held him	B
Tangled in her raven tresses	D
Tied and tangled in her tresses	D
Ah the best of men are tangled	I
Sometimes tangled in the tresses	D
Of a fair and crafty woman	B
	-
So the Panther wed the Red Fox	D
And she followed to his wigwam	B
Young again he seemed and gladsome	B
Glad as Raven when the father	E
Made his first bow from the elm tree	B
From the ash tree made his arrows	D
Taught him how to aim his arrows	D
How to shoot Wabose the rabbit	I
Then again the brawny hunter	E
Brought the black bear and the beaver	E
Brought the haunch of elk and red deer	T
Brought the rabbit and the pheasant	I
Choicest bits of all for Red Fox	D
For her robes he brought the sable	J
Brought the otter and the ermine	B
Brought the black fox tipped with silver	E
	-
But the Sea Gull murmured never	E
Not a word she spoke in anger	E
Went about her work as ever	E
Tanned the skins of bear and beaver	E
Tanned the hides of moose and red deer	T
Gathered fagots for the lodge fire	E
Gathered rushes from the marshes	D
Deftly into mats she wove them	B
Kept the lodge as bright as ever	E
Only to herself she murmured	I
All alone with Waub omee mee	B
On the tall and toppling highland	I
O'er the wilderness of waters	D
Murmured to the murmuring waters	D
Murmured to the Nebe naw baigs	D
To the spirits of the waters	D
On the wild waves poured her sorrow	I
Save the infant on her bosom	B
With her dark eyes wide with wonder	E
None to hear her but the spirits	D
And the murmuring pines above her	E
Thus she cast away her burdens	D
Cast her burdens on the waters	D
Thus unto the good Great Spirit	I
Made her lowly lamentation	B
Wahonowin showiness	D
Gitchee Manito bena nin	B
Nah Ba ba showain nemeshin	B
Wahonowin Wahonowin	B
	-
Ka be bon ik ka the mighty	B
He that sends the cruel winter	E
From the distant Thunder mountain	B
On the shore of Gitchee Gumee	B
On the rugged northern border	E
Sent his solemn final warning	L
Sent the white wolves of the Nor'land	I
Like the dust of stars in ether	E
In the Pathway of the Spirits	D
Like the sparkling dust of diamonds	D
Fell the frost upon the forest	I
On the mountains and the meadows	D
On the wilderness of woodland	I
On the wilderness of waters	D
All the lingering fowls departed	I
All that seek the South in winter	E
All but Shingebis the diver	E
He defies the Winter maker	E
Sits and laughs at Winter maker	E
	-
Ka be bon ik ka the mighty	B
From his wigwam called Kewaydin	B
From his home among the icebergs	D
From the sea of frozen waters	D
Called the swift and hungry North wind	I
Then he spread his mighty pinions	D
Over all the land and shook them	B
Like the white down of Waubese	D
Fell the feathery snow and covered	I
All the marshes and the meadows	D
All the hill tops and the highlands	D
Then old Peboean the winter	E
Laughed along the stormy waters	D
Danced upon the windy headlands	D
On the storm his white hair streaming	L
And his steaming breath ascending	L
On the pine tops and the cedars	D
Fell in frosty mists of silver	E
Sprinkling spruce and fir with silver	E
Sprinkling all the woods with silver	E
	-
By the lodge fire all the winter	E
Sat the Sea Gull and the Red Fox	D
Sat and kindly spoke and chatted	I
Till the twain seemed friends together	E
Friends they seemed in word and action	B
But within the breast of either	E
Smoldered still the baneful embers	D
Fires of jealousy and hatred	I
Like a camp fire in the forest	I
Left by hunters and deserted	I
Only seems a bed of ashes	D
But the East wind Wabun noodin	B
Scatters through the woods the ashes	D
Fans to flame the sleeping embers	D
And the wild fire roars and rages	D
Roars and rages through the forest	I
So the baneful embers smoldered	I
Smoldered in the breast of either	E
From the far off Sunny Islands	D
From the pleasant land of Summer	E
Where the spirits of the blessed	I
Feel no more the fangs of hunger	E
Or the cold breath of Kewaydin	B
Came a stately youth and handsome	B
Came Segun the foe of Winter	E
Like the rising sun his face was	D
Like the shining stars his eyes were	E
Light his footsteps as the Morning's	D
In his hand were buds and blossoms	D
On his brow a blooming garland	I
Straightway to the icy wigwam	B
Of old Peboean the Winter	E
Strode Segun and quickly entered	I
There old Peboean sat and shivered	I
Shivered o'er his dying lodge fire	E
	-
Ah my son I bid you welcome	B
Sit and tell me your adventures	D
I will tell you of my power	E
We will pass the night together	E
Thus spake Peboean the Winter	E
Then he filled his pipe and lighted	I
Then by sacred custom raised it	I
To the spirits in the ether	E
To the spirits in the caverns	D
Of the hollow earth he lowered it	I
Thus he passed it to the spirits	D
And the unseen spirits puffed it	I
Next himself old Peboean honored	I
Thrice he puffed his pipe and passed it	I
Passed it to the handsome stranger	E
	-
Lo I blow my breath said Winter	E
And the laughing brooks are silent	I
Hard as flint become the waters	D
And the rabbit runs upon them	B
	-
Then Segun the fair youth answered	I
Lo I breathe upon the hillsides	D
On the valleys and the meadows	D
And behold as if by magic	U
By the magic of the spirits	D
Spring the flowers and tender grasses	D
	-
Then old Peboean replying	L
Nah I breathe upon the forests	D
And the leaves fall sere and yellow	I
Then I shake my locks and snow falls	D
Covering all the naked landscape	V
	-
Then Segun arose and answered	I
Nashke see I shake my ringlets	D
On the earth the warm rain falleth	H
And the flowers look up like children	B
Glad eyed from their mother's bosom	B
Lo my voice recalls the robin	B
Brings the bobolink and bluebird	I
And the woods are full of music	U
With my breath I melt their fetters	D
And the brooks leap laughing onward	I
	-
Then old Peboean looked upon him	B
Looked and knew Segun the Summer	E
From his eyes the big tears started	I
And his boastful tongue was silent	I
Now Keezis the great life giver	E
From his wigwam in Waubu nong	U
Rose and wrapped his shining blanket	I
Round his giant form and started	I
Westward started on his journey	B
Striding on from hill to hill top	R
Upward then he climbed the ether	E
On the Bridge of Stars he traveled	I
Westward traveled on his journey	B
To the far off Sunset Mountains	D
To the gloomy land of shadows	D
	-
On the lodge poles sang the robin	B
And the brooks began to murmur	E
On the South wind floated fragrance	D
Of the early buds and blossoms	D
From old Peboean's eyes the tear drops	D
Down his pale face ran in streamlets	D
Less and less he grew in stature	E
Till he melted down to nothing	U
And behold from out the ashes	D
From the ashes of his lodge fire	E
Sprang the Miscodeed and blushing	U
Welcomed Segun to the North land	I
	-
So from Sunny Isles returning	U
From the Summer Land of spirits	D
On the poles of Panther's wigwam	B
Sang Opee chee sang the robin	B
In the maples cooed the pigeons	D
Cooed and wooed like silly lovers	D
Hah hah laughed the crow derisive	W
In the pine top at their folly	B
Laughed and jeered the silly lovers	D
Blind with love were they and saw not	I
Deaf to all but love and heard not	I
So they cooed and wooed unheeding	U
Till the gray hawk pounced upon them	B
And the old crow shook with laughter	E
	-
On the tall cliff by the sea shore	X
Red Fox made a swing She fastened	I
Thongs of moose hide to the pine tree	B
To the strong arm of the pine tree	B
Like a hawk above the waters	D
There she swung herself and fluttered	I
Laughing at the thought of danger	E
Swung and fluttered o'er the waters	D
Then she bantered Sea Gull saying	U
See I swing above the billows	D
Dare you swing above the billows	D
Swing like me above the billows	D
	-
To herself said Sea Gull Surely	B
I will dare whatever danger	E
Dares the Red Fox dares my rival	J
She shall never call me coward	I
So she swung above the waters	D
Dizzy height above the waters	D
Pushed and aided by her rival	J
To and fro with reckless daring	U
Till the strong tree rocked and trembled	I
Rocked and trembled with its burden	B
As above the yawning billows	D
Flew the Sea Gull like a whirlwind	I
Red Fox swifter than red lightning	U
Cut the thongs and headlong downward	I
Like an osprey from the ether	E
Like a wild goose pierced with arrows	D
Fluttering fell the frantic woman	B
Fluttering fell into the waters	D
Plunged and sunk beneath the waters	D
Hark the wailing of the West wind	I
Hark the wailing of the waters	D
And the beating of the billows	D
But no more the voice of Sea Gull	J
	-
In the wigwam sat the Red Fox	D
Hushed the wail of Waub omee mee	B
Weeping for her absent mother	E
With the twinkling stars the hunter	E
From the forest came and Raven	B
Sea Gull wanders late said Red Fox	D
Late she wanders by the sea shore	X
And some evil may befall her	E
In the misty morning twilight	I
Forth went Panther and the Raven	B
Searched the forest and the marshes	D
Searched for leagues along the lake shore	X
Searched the islands and the highlands	D
But they found no trace or tidings	D
Found no track in marsh or meadow	I
Found no trail in fen or forest	I
On the shore sand found no footprints	D
Many days they sought and found not	I
Then to Panther spoke the Raven	B
She is in the Land of Spirits	D
Surely in the Land of Spirits	D
High at midnight I beheld her	E
Like a flying star beheld her	E
To the waves of Gitchee Gumee	B
Downward flashing through the ether	E
Thus she flashed that I might see her	E
See and know my mother's spirit	I
Thus she pointed to the waters	D
And beneath them lies her body	B
In the wigwam of the spirits	D
In the lodge of Nebe naw baigs	D
	-
Then spoke Panther to the Raven	B
On the tall cliff by the waters	D
Wait and watch with Waub omee mee	B
If the Sea Gull hear the wailing	U
Of her infant she will answer	E
	-
On the tall cliff by the waters	D
So the Raven watched and waited	I
All the day he watched and waited	I
But the hungry infant slumbered	I
Slumbered by the side of Raven	B
Till the pines' gigantic shadows	D
Stretched and pointed to Waubu nong	U
To the far off land of Sunrise	D
Then the wee one woke and famished	I
Made a long and piteous wailing	U
	-
From afar where sky and waters	D
Meet in misty haze and mingle	J
Straight toward the rocky highland	I
Straight as flies the feathered arrow	I
Straight to Raven and the infant	I
Swiftly flew a snow white sea gull	J
Flew and touched the earth a woman	B
And behold the long lost mother	E
Caught her wailing child and nursed her	E
Sang a lullaby and nursed her	E
	-
Thrice was wound a chain of silver	E
Round her waist and strongly fastened	I
Far away into the waters	D
To the wigwam of the spirits	D
To the lodge of Nebe naw baigs	D
Stretched the magic chain of silver	E
Spoke the mother to the Raven	B
O my son my brave young hunter	E
Feed my tender little orphan	B
Be a father to my orphan	B
Be a mother to my orphan	B
For the crafty Red Fox robbed us	D
Robbed the Sea Gull of her husband	I
Robbed the infant of her mother	E
From this cliff the treacherous woman	B
Headlong into Gitchee Gumee	B
Plunged the mother of my orphan	B
Then a Nebe naw baig caught me	B
Chief of all the Nebe naw baigs	D
Took me to his shining wigwam	B
In the cavern of the waters	D
Deep beneath the mighty waters	D
All below is burnished copper	E
All above is burnished silver	E
Gemmed with amethyst and agates	D
As his wife the Spirit holds me	B
By this silver chain he holds me	B
	-
When my little one is famished	I
When with long and piteous wailing	U
Cries the orphan for her mother	E
Hither bring her O my Raven	B
I will hear her I will answer	E
Now the Nebe naw baig calls me	B
Pulls the chain I must obey him	B
Thus she spoke and in the twinkling	U
Of a star the spirit woman	B
Changed into a snow white sea gull	J
Spread her wings and o'er the waters	D
Swiftly flew and swiftly vanished	I
Then in secret to the Panther	E
Raven told his tale of wonder	E
Sad and sullen was the hunter	E
Sorrow gnawed his heart like hunger	E
All the old love came upon him	B
And the new love was a hatred	I
Hateful to his heart was Red Fox	D
But he kept from her the secret	I
Kept his knowledge of the murder	E
Vain was she and very haughty	B
Oge ma kwa of the wigwam	B
All in vain her fond caresses	D
On the Panther now she lavished	I
When she smiled his face was sullen	B
When she laughed he frowned upon her	E
In her net of raven tresses	D
Now no more she held him tangled	I
Now through all her fair disguises	D
Panther saw an evil spirit	I
Saw the false heart of the woman	B
	-
On the tall cliff o'er the waters	D
Raven sat with Waub omee mee	B
Sat and watched again and waited	I
Till the wee one faint and famished	I
Made a long and piteous wailing	U
Then again the snow white Sea Gull	J
From afar where sky and waters	D
Meet in misty haze and mingle	J
Straight toward the rocky highland	I
Straight as flies the feathered arrow	I
Straight to Raven and the infant	I
With the silver chain around her	E
Flew and touched the earth a woman	B
In her arms she caught her infant	I
Caught the wailing Waub omee mee	B
Sang a lullaby and nursed her	E
Sprang the Panther from the thicket	I
Sprang and broke the chain of silver	E
With his tomahawk he broke it	I
Thus he freed the willing Sea Gull	J
From the Water Spirit freed her	E
From the Chief of Nebe naw baigs	D
	-
Very angry was the Spirit	I
When he drew the chain of silver	E
Drew and found that it was broken	B
Found that he had lost the woman	B
Very angry was the Spirit	I
Then he raged beneath the waters	D
Raged and smote the mighty waters	D
Till the big sea boiled and bubbled	I
Till the white haired bounding billows	D
Roared around the rocky headlands	D
Rolled and roared upon the shingle	J
	-
To the wigwam happy Panther	E
As when first he wooed and won her	E
Led his wife as young and handsome	B
For the waves of Gitchee Gumee	B
Washed away the frost and wrinkles	D
And the spirits by their magic	U
Made her young and fair forever	E
	-
In the wigwam sat the Red Fox	D
Sat and sang a song of triumph	Y
For she little dreamed of danger	E
Till the haughty hunter entered	I
Followed by the happy mother	E
Holding in her arms her infant	I
When the Red Fox saw the Sea Gull	J
Saw the dead a living woman	B
One wild cry she gave despairing	U
One wild cry as of a demon	B
Up she sprang and from the wigwam	B
To the tall cliff flew in terror	E
Frantic sprang upon the margin	B
Frantic plunged into the waters	D
Headlong plunged into the waters	D
	-
Dead she tossed upon the billows	D
For the Nebe naw baigs knew her	E
Knew the crafty wicked woman	B
And they cast her from the waters	D
Spurned her from their shining wigwams	D
Far away upon the shingle	J
With the roaring waves they cast her	E
There upon her bloated body	B
Fed the cawing crows and ravens	D
Fed the hungry wolves and foxes	D
	-
On the shore of Gitchee Gumee	B
Ever young and ever handsome	B
Long and happy lived the Sea Gull	J
Long and happy with the Panther	E
Evermore the happy hunter	E
Loved the mother of his children	B
Like a red star many winters	D
Blazed their lodge fire on the sea shore	X
O'er the Bridge of Souls together	E
Walked the Sea Gull and the Panther	E
To the far off Sunny Islands	D
To the Summer Land of Spirits	D
Sea Gull journeyed with her husband	I
Where no more the happy hunter	E
Feels the fangs of frost or famine	B
Or the keen blasts of Kewaydin	B
Where no pain or sorrow enters	D
And no crafty wicked woman	B
There she rules his lodge forever	E
And the twain are very happy	B
On the far off Sunny Islands	D
In the Summer Land of Spirits	D
On the rocks of Gitchee Gumee	B
On the Pictured Rocks the legend	I
Long ago was traced and written	B
Pictured by the Water Spirits	D
But the storms of many winters	D
Have bedimmed the pictured story	B
So that none can read the legend	I
But the Jossakeeds the prophets	D

Hanford Lennox Gordon

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