The Wakan Wacepee, Or Sacred Dance (ii) Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABACDEFEGHGBIEIHJAJK JEJALALK MENEEOEEEKAKPAAKBQAK AKAKAEAEABRKEKBKSTTK UVBABKEBEEWEWXYZYK EBK A2OA2TB2AB2E C2C2A2A AC2A2ZZ A BBEBK AZKBWW B2BB2OBTBOA2C2AEAD2A E E2EE2A2F2KG2QKOH2AI2 EQEUEUEUEJ2EJ2BK2TK2 E QL2E IOITM2KM2EN2BN2QO2EO 2QISIQJBJEP2EP2QQ2EQ 2R2Q2QS2RS2A2CVCK K IKT2EWQWSQEQQQA2QEWQ QECU2 WKA2V2EK WA2WEW2X2W2KWWA2QQEQ WUEA2Q E H2QH2EH2TWQWKWEWEX2K WWWEWQWQ Y2EA2W WEWWEKWWWEWEWA2WTZ2K QE K QA2QWJ2QWEEQWTEEWWWE WQWQA2A2A2E A2 J2J2WWWWJ2J2 J2J2QQA2A2J2J2 J2J2WWCEJ2J2J2J2 TE A2EA2EQEW2EI2EI2J2A2 A2A2EEJ2EEQQA2Q W A3EJ2A2EWEQQEQQEEEJ2 B3EQA2WQ EA2EQH2A2QWEEEQQJ2QC 3WEJ2J2J2EEJ2EQEEEJ2 QQQC2QWA2WEWE WEWWI2EI2D3H2A2H2J2E A2EEQWQEEJ2EEEWWJ2WE G2WF2WEEEQJ2EJ2A2WEW W EQEEEJ2EEJ2J2J2EF2J2 G2J2QCQWJ2J2J2EEJ2EW EEEJ2BWBEE3EE3J2WEWA 2QWF2EWQWEWQWEWWEEEE WWF2EWJ2WQQWWA2 QQQJ2WEWQA2W C2Q A2QN2J2N2EQWQA2F2J2F 2A2WQCJ2 QBQQEWJ2QJ2W QWY2J2J2A2J2 EEEEWEWEJ2QA2EJ2WJ2J 2 EEQWJ2E QQQEF2J2F2WQEQEJ2J2J 2QEA2EEF2WF2J2EBEE EQEJ2QA2CEBJ2BEEQEW CQQWEEEE WEWE EW EWC2WEEEQQQQEEA2EEWQ WEWCBQBJ2EJ2EJ2 E EA2EQEQECEQN2J2N2J2E QWJ2J2QJ2QJ2Q Q QEWWJ2WJ2QJ2A2J2WJ2A 2QJ2QJ2J2WJ2J2EJ2EQJ 2BJ2QQEQJ2C2EA2EWJ2W EJ2Q J2 EQEJ2WJ2N2EQEQEWA2J2 J2WA2WBJ2WQWJ2J2J2EW J2WQQQ QWWWWEWJ2WWJ2EJ2EQA2 WA2WQWWA2WA2QWWWJ2 J2J2 F2J2F2WQEEWEWEQEQEQE EWEWF3EWEG3EC2QWJ2J2 F2EEWJ2J2J2A2J2J2A2Q EWEJ2EEWEWWWWWJ2 EQWW QEQEJ2QJ2QWWWJ2WQWEQ WQEQQ WW WA2WEWQWA2EA2EEEA2I2 WJ2EEJ2EC2WA2WH3WW WQWQA2 Q QWQWQ QEQQL2QWWWQWJ2WJ2J2Q J2J2J2EJ2QQQQQWQEJ2E J2E3WE3QWWWEWJ2WA2WQ WJ2WEWWCA2CA2CQCWWWW J2 J2ECQE WBWWJ2WJ2QWWWE EEEEEEEQEWWQWWEEEQEW EW CCCCWCCC Q QQQEA2QQE WJ2WQWN2WQCWQU2WA2WJ 2QQQQJ2A2J2QWWWEJ2QJ 2A2 E J2U2J2EEA2EA2 EA2EA2 QWQW QEWQECEEEEEQQJ2A2A2J 2Q A2EEEJ2A2 J2EEQEE CA2CEWQWA2E3J2WEA2A2 A2J2A2EEQEW WEWEWJ2J2EJ2EJ2QA2A2 QEQE J2CJ2E WQWQ Z2J2Z2J2 QEQE A2A2A2WWEWQQEQQEEEQW EEEJ2EJ2A2WECE A2QEEA2

Lo the lights in the Teepee Wakan	A
'tis the night of the Wakan Wacepee	B
Round and round walks the chief of the clan	A
as he rattles the sacred Ta sha kay	C
Long and loud on the Chan che ga	D
beat the drummers with magical drumsticks	E
And the notes of the Cho tanka greet	F
like the murmur of winds on the waters	E
By the friction of white cedar wood	G
for the feast was a Virgin fire kindled	H
They that enter the firm brotherhood	G
first must fast and be cleansed by E nee pee	B
And from foot sole to crown of the head	I
must they paint with the favorite colors	E
For Unktehee likes bands of blood red	I
with the stripings of blue intermingled	H
In the hollow earth dark and profound	J
Unktehee and fiery Wakin yan	A
Long fought and the terrible sound	J
of the battle was louder than thunder	K
The mountains were heaved and around	J
were scattered the hills and the boulders	E
And the vast solid plains of the ground	J
rose and fell like the waves of the ocean	A
But the god of the waters prevailed	L
Wakin yan escaped from the cavern	A
And long on the mountains he wailed	L
and his hatred endureth forever	K
	-
When Unktehee had finished the earth	M
and the beasts and the birds and the fishes	E
And men at his bidding came forth	N
from the heart of the huge hollow mountains	E
A band chose the god from the hordes	E
and he said Ye are sons of Unktehee	O
Ye are lords of the beasts and the birds	E
and the fishes that swim in the waters	E
But hearken ye now to my words	E
let them sound in your bosoms forever	K
Ye shall honor Unktehee and hate Wakinyan	A
the Spirit of Thunder	K
For the power of Unktehee is great	P
and he laughs at the darts of Wakinyan	A
Ye shall honor the Earth and the Sun	A
for they are your father and mother	K
Let your prayer to the Sun be	B
Wakan Ate on si ma da ohee nee a	Q
And remember the Taku Wakan	A
all pervading in earth and in ether	K
Invisible ever to man	A
but he dwells in the midst of all matter	K
Yea he dwells in the heart of the stone	A
in the hard granite heart of the boulder	K
Ye shall call him forever Tunkan	A
grandfather of all the Dakotas	E
Ye are men that I choose for my own	A
ye shall be as a strong band of brothers	E
Now I give you the magical bone	A
and the magical pouch of the spirits b	B
And these are the laws ye shall heed	R
Ye shall honor the pouch and the giver	K
Ye shall walk as twin brothers	E
in need one shall forfeit his life for another	K
Listen not to the voice of the crow c	B
Hold as sacred the wife of a brother	K
Strike and fear not the shaft of the foe	S
for the soul of the brave is immortal	T
Slay the warrior in battle	T
but spare the innocent babe and the mother	K
Remember a promise beware	U
let the word of a warrior be sacred	V
When a stranger arrives at the tee	B
be he friend of the band or a foeman	A
Give him food let your bounty be free	B
lay a robe for the guest by the lodge fire	K
Let him go to his kindred in peace	E
if the peace pipe he smoke in the teepee	B
And so shall your children increase	E
and your lodges shall laugh with abundance	E
And long shall ye live in the land	W
and the spirits of earth and the waters	E
Shall come to your aid at command	W
with the power of invisible magic	X
And at last when you journey afar	Y
o'er the shining Wanagee Ta chan ku	Z
You shall walk as a red shining star	Y
in the land of perpetual summer	K
	-
a Sacred Spirit Father have pity on me always	E
b Riggs' Tahkoo Wakan p	B
c Slander	K
	-
All the night in the teepee they sang	A2
and they danced to the mighty Unktehee	O
While the loud braying Chan che ga rang	A2
and the shrill piping flute and the rattle	T
Till Anpetuwee rose in the east	B2
from the couch of the blushing Han nan na	A
And then at the dance and the feast	B2
sang the song of Unktehee in chorus	E
	-
Wa du ta o hna mi ka ge	C2
Wa du ta o hna mi ka ge	C2
Mini yata ite wakande maku	A2
Ate wakan Tunkansidan	A
	-
Tunkansidan pejihuta wakan	A
Micage he Wicage	C2
Miniyata ite wakande maku	A2
Taukansidan ite nape du win ta woo	Z
Wahutopa wan yuha nape du win ta too	Z
	-
TRANSLATION	A
	-
In red swan down he made it for me	B
In red swan down he made it for me	B
He of the water he of the mysterious face	E
Gave it to me	B
Sacred Father Grandfather	K
	-
Grandfather made me magical medicine	A
That is true	Z
Being of mystery grown in the water	K
He gave it to me	B
To the face of our Grandfather stretch out your hand	W
Holding a quadruped stretch out your hand	W
	-
Till high o'er the hills of the east	B2
Anpetuwee walked on his journey	B
In secret they danced at the feast	B2
and communed with the mighty Unktehee	O
Then opened the door of the tee	B
to the eyes of the day and the people	T
And the sons of Unktehee to be	B
were endowed with the sacred Ozuha	O
By the son of tall Wazi kute Tamdoka	A2
the chief of the Magi	C2
And thus since the birth day of man	A
since he sprang from the heart of the mountains	E
Has the sacred Wacepee Wakan	A
by the warlike Dakotas been honored	D2
And the god favored sons of the clan	A
work their will with the help of the spirits	E
	-
'Twas sunrise the spirits of mist	E2
trailed their white robes on dewy savannas	E
And the flowers raised their heads to be kissed	E2
by the first golden beams of the morning	A2
The breeze was abroad with the breath	F2
of the rose of the Isles of the Summer	K
And the humming bird hummed on the heath	G2
from his home in the land of the rain bow a	Q
'Twas the morn of departure	K
Duluth stood alone by the roar of the Ha ha	O
Tall and fair in the strength of his youth	H2
stood the blue eyed and fair bearded Frenchman	A
A rustle of robes on the grass broke his dream	I2
as he mused by the waters	E
And turning he looked on the face of Winona	Q
wild rose of the prairies	E
Half hid in her forest of hair	U
like the round golden moon in the pine tops	E
Admiring he gazed she was fair	U
as his own blooming Flore in her orchards	E
With her golden locks loose on the air	U
like the gleam of the sun through the olives	E
Far away on the vine covered shore	J2
in the sun favored land of his fathers	E
Lists the chief to the cataract's roar	J2
for the mournful lament of the Spirit b	B
Said Winona The wail of the sprite	K2
for her babe and its father unfaithful	T
Is heard in the midst of the night	K2
when the moon wanders dim in the heavens	E
	-
a The Dakotas say the humming bird comes from the land of the	Q
rain bow	L2
b See Legend of the Falls or Note Appendix	E
	-
Wild Rose of the Prairies he said	I
DuLuth listens not to the Ha ha	O
For the wail of the ghost of the dead	I
for her babe and its father unfaithful	T
But he lists to a voice in his heart	M2
that is heard by the ear of no other	K
And to day will the White Chief depart	M2
he returns to the land of the sunrise	E
Let Winona depart with the chief	N2
she will kindle the fire in his teepee	B
For long are the days of her grief	N2
if she stay in the tee of Ta te psin	Q
She replied and her cheeks were aflame	O2
with the bloom of the wild prairie lilies	E
Tanke a is the White Chief to blame	O2
said DuLuth to the blushing Winona	Q
The White Chief is blameless she said	I
but the heart of Winona will follow	S
Wherever thy footsteps may lead	I
O blue eyed brave Chief of the white men	Q
For her mother sleeps long in the mound	J
and a step mother rules in the teepee	B
And her father once strong and renowned	J
is bent with the weight of his winters	E
No longer he handles the spear	P2
no longer his swift humming arrows	E
Overtake the fleet feet of the deer	P2
or the bear of the woods or the bison	Q
But he bends as he walks and the wind	Q2
shakes his white hair and hinders his footsteps	E
And soon will he leave me behind	Q2
without brother or sister or kindred	R2
The doe scents the wolf in the wind	Q2
and a wolf walks the path of Winona	Q
Three times have the gifts for the bride	S2
to the lodge of Ta te psin been carried	R
But the voice of Winona replied	S2
that she liked not the haughty Tamdoka	A2
And thrice were the gifts sent away	C
but the tongue of the mother protested	V
And the were wolf still follows his prey	C
abides but the death of my father	K
	-
a My Sister	K
	-
I pity Winona he said	I
but my path is a pathway of danger	K
And long is the trail for the maid	T2
to the far away land of the sunrise	E
And few are the braves of my band	W
and the braves of Tamdoka are many	Q
But soon I return to the land	W
and a cloud of my hunters will follow	S
When the cold winds of winter return	Q
and toss the white robes of the prairies	E
The fire of the White Chief will burn	Q
in his lodge at the Meeting of Waters a	Q
And when from the Sunrise again	Q
comes the chief of the suns of the Morning	A2
Many moons will his hunters remain	Q
in the land of the friendly Dakotas	E
The son of Chief Wazi kute	W
guides the White Chief afar on his journey	Q
Nor long on the Tonka Mede b	Q
on the breast of the blue bounding billows	E
Shall the bark of the Frenchman delay	C
but his pathway shall kindle behind him	U2
	-
a Mendota properly Mdo te meaning the outlet of lake or river into	W
another	K
commonly applied to the region about Fort Snelling	A2
b Tonka Mede Great Lake i e Lake Superior The Dakotas seem to have	V2
had no other name for it They generally referred to it as	E
Mini ya ta There at the water	K
	-
She was pale and her hurried voice swelled	W
with alarm as she questioned replying	A2
Tamdoka thy guide	W
I beheld thy death in his face at the races	E
He covers his heart with a smile	W2
but revenge never sleeps in his bosom	X2
His tongue it is soft to beguile	W2
but beware of the pur of the panther	K
For death like a shadow	W
will walk by thy side in the midst of the forest	W
Or follow thy path like a hawk	A2
on the trail of a wounded Mastinca a	Q
A son of Unktehee is he	Q
the Chief of the crafty magicians	E
They have plotted thy death I foresee	Q
and thy trail it is red in the forest	W
Beware of Tamdoka beware	U
Slumber not like the grouse of the woodlands	E
With head under wing	A2
for the glare of the eyes that sleep not are upon thee	Q
	-
a The rabbit The Dakotas called the Crees Mastincapi Rabbits	E
	-
Winona fear not said Duluth	H2
for I carry the fire of Wakinyan a	Q
And strong is the arm of my youth	H2
and stout are the hearts of my warriors	E
But Winona has spoken the truth	H2
and the heart of the White Chief is thankful	T
Hide this in thy bosom dear maid	W
'tis the crucified Christ of the white men b	Q
Lift thy voice to his spirit in need	W
and his spirit will hear thee and answer	K
For often he comes to my aid	W
he is stronger than all the Dakotas	E
And the Spirits of evil afraid	W
hide away when he looks from the heavens	E
In her swelling brown bosom	X2
she hid the crucified Jesus in silver	K
Niwaste c she sadly replied	W
in her low voice the rising tears trembled	W
Her dewy eyes turned she aside	W
and she slowly returned to the teepees	E
But still on the swift river's strand	W
admiring the graceful Winona	Q
As she gathered with brown dimpled hand	W
her hair from the wind stood the Frenchman	Q
	-
a i e a fire arm which the Dakotas compare to the roar of the wings of	Y2
the Thunder bird and the fiery arrows he shoots	E
b Duluth was a devout Catholic	A2
c Nee wahshtay Thou art good	W
	-
To bid the brave White Chief adieu	W
on the shady shore gathered the warriors	E
His glad boatmen manned the canoe	W
and the oars in their hands were impatient	W
Spake the Chief of Isantees	E
A feast will await the return of my brother	K
In peace rose the sun in the East	W
in peace in the West he descended	W
May the feet of my brother be swift	W
till they bring him again to our teepees	E
The red pipe he takes as a gift	W
may he smoke that red pipe many winters	E
At my lodge fire his pipe shall be lit	W
when the White Chief returns to Kathaga	A2
On the robes of my tee shall he sit	W
he shall smoke with the chiefs of my people	T
The brave love the brave	Z2
and his son sends the Chief as a guide for his brother	K
By the way of the Wakpa Wakan a	Q
to the Chief at the Lake of the Spirits	E
	-
a Spirit River now called Rum River	K
	-
As light as the foot steps of dawn	Q
are the feet of the stealthy Tamdoka	A2
And he fears not the Maza Wakan a	Q
he is sly as the fox of the forest	W
When he dances the dance of red war	J2
all the hungry wolves howl by the Big Sea b	Q
For they scent on the south wind	W
afar their feast on the bones of Ojibways	E
Thrice the Chief puffed the red pipe of peace	E
ere it passed to the lips of the Frenchman	Q
Spake DuLuth May the Great Spirit	W
bless with abundance the Chief and his people	T
May their sons and their daughters increase	E
and the fire ever burn in their teepees	E
Then he waved with a flag his adieu	W
to the Chief and the warriors assembled	W
And away shot Tamdoka's canoe	W
to the strokes of ten sinewy hunters	E
And a white path he clove up the blue	W
bubbling stream of the swift Mississippi	Q
And away on his foaming trail flew	W
like a Sea Gull the bark of the Frenchman	Q
Then merrily rose the blithe song	A2
of the voyageurs homeward returning	A2
And thus as they glided along	A2
sang the bugle voiced boatmen in chorus	E
	-
SONG	A2
	-
Home again home again bend to the oar	J2
Merry is the life of the gay voyageur	J2
He rides on the river with his paddle in his hand	W
And his boat is his shelter on the water and the land	W
The clam in his shell and the water turtle too	W
And the brave boatman's shell is his birch bark canoe	W
So pull away boatmen bend to the oar	J2
Merry is the life of the gay voyageur	J2
	-
Home again home again bend to the oar	J2
Merry is the life of the gay voyageur	J2
His couch is as downy as a couch can be	Q
For he sleeps on the feathers of the green fir tree	Q
He dines on the fat of the pemmican sack	A2
And his eau de vie is the eau de lac	A2
So pull away boatmen bend to the oar	J2
Merry is the life of the gay voyageur	J2
	-
Home again home again bend to the oar	J2
Merry is the life of the gay voyageur	J2
The brave jolly boatman he never is afraid	W
When he meets at the portage a red forest maid	W
A Huron or a Cree or a blooming Chippeway	C
And he marks his trail with the bois brules	E
So pull away boatmen bend to the oar	J2
Merry is the life of the gay voyageur	J2
Home again home again bend to the oar	J2
Merry is the life of the gay voyageur	J2
	-
a Fire arm spirit metal	T
b Lake Superior at that time the home of the Ojibways Chippewas	E
	-
In the reeds of the meadow the stag	A2
lifts his branchy head stately and listens	E
And the bobolink perched on the flag	A2
her ear sidelong bends to the chorus	E
From the brow of the Beautiful Isle a	Q
half hid in the midst of the maples	E
The sad faced Winona the while	W2
watched the boat growing less in the distance	E
Till away in the bend of the stream	I2
where it turned and was lost in the lindens	E
She saw the last dip and the gleam	I2
of the oars ere they vanished forever	J2
Still afar on the waters the song	A2
like bridal bells distantly chiming	A2
The stout jolly boatmen prolong	A2
beating time with the stroke of their paddles	E
And Winona's ear turned to the breeze	E
lists the air falling fainter and fainter	J2
Till it dies like the murmur of bees	E
when the sun is aslant on the meadows	E
Blow breezes blow softly	Q
and sing in the dark flowing hair of the maiden	Q
But never again shall you bring	A2
the voice that she loves to Winona	Q
	-
a Wista Waste Nicollet Island	W
	-
Now a light rustling wind from the South	A3
shakes his wings o'er the wide wimpling waters	E
Up the dark winding river	J2
DuLuth follows fast in the wake of Tamdoka	A2
On the slopes of the emerald shores	E
leafy woodlands and prairies alternate	W
On the vine tangled islands	E
the flowers peep timidly out at the white men	Q
In the dark winding eddy the loon sits warily	Q
watching and voiceless	E
And the wild goose in reedy lagoon	Q
stills the prattle and play of her children	Q
The does and their sleek dappled fawns	E
prick their ears and peer out from the thickets	E
And the bison calves play on the lawns	E
and gambol like colts in the clover	J2
Up the still flowing Wakpa Wakan's winding path	B3
through the groves and the meadows	E
Now DuLuth's brawny boatmen	Q
pursue the swift gliding bark of Tamdoka	A2
And hardly the red braves out do	W
the stout steady oars of the white men	Q
	-
Now they bend to their oars in the race	E
the ten tawny braves of Tamdoka	A2
And hard on their heels in the chase	E
ply the six stalwart oars of the Frenchmen	Q
In the stern of his boat sits DuLuth	H2
in the stern of his boat stands Tamdoka	A2
And warily cheerily	Q
both urge the oars of their men to the utmost	W
Far stretching away to the eyes	E
winding blue in the midst of the meadows	E
As a necklet of sapphires	E
that lies unclaspt in the lap of a virgin	Q
Here asleep in the lap of the plain	Q
lies the reed bordered beautiful river	J2
Like two flying coursers that strain	Q
on the track neck and neck on the home stretch	C3
With nostrils distended and mane froth flecked	W
and the neck and the shoulders	E
Each urged to his best by the cry	J2
and the whip and the rein of his rider	J2
Now they skim o'er the waters and fly	J2
side by side neck and neck through the meadows	E
The blue heron flaps from the reeds	E
and away wings her course up the river	J2
Straight and swift is her flight o'er the meads	E
but she hardly outstrips the canoemen	Q
See the voyageurs bend to their oars	E
till the blue veins swell out on their foreheads	E
And the sweat from their brawny breasts pours	E
but in vain their Herculean labor	J2
For the oars of Tamdoka are ten	Q
and but six are the oars of the Frenchmen	Q
And the red warriors' burden of men	Q
is matched by the voyageur's luggage	C2
Side by side neck and neck for a mile	Q
still they strain their strong arms to the utmost	W
Till rounding a willowy isle now ahead creeps the boat of Tamdoka	A2
And the neighboring forests profound	W
and the far stretching plain of the meadows	E
To the whoop of the victors resound	W
while the panting French rest on their paddles	E
	-
With sable wings wide o'er the land	W
night sprinkles the dew of the heavens	E
And hard by the dark river's strand	W
in the midst of a tall somber forest	W
Two camp fires are lighted and beam	I2
on the trunks and the arms of the pine trees	E
In the fitful light darkle and gleam	I2
the swarthy hued faces around them	D3
And one is the camp of DuLuth	H2
and the other the camp of Tamdoka	A2
But few are the jests and uncouth	H2
of the voyageurs over their supper	J2
While moody and silent the braves	E
round their fire in a circle sit crouching	A2
And low is the whisper of leaves	E
and the sough of the wind in the branches	E
And low is the long winding howl	Q
of the lone wolf afar in the forest	W
But shrill is the hoot of the owl	Q
like a bugle blast blown in the pine tops	E
And the half startled voyageurs	E
scowl at the sudden and saucy intruder	J2
Like the eyes of the wolves are the eyes	E
of the watchful and silent Dakotas	E
Like the face of the moon in the skies	E
when the clouds chase each other across it	W
Is Tamdoka's dark face in the light	W
of the flickering flames of the camp fire	J2
They have plotted red murder by night	W
and securely contemplate their victims	E
But wary and armed to the teeth	G2
are the resolute Frenchmen and ready	W
If need be to grapple with death	F2
and to die hand to hand in the desert	W
Yet skilled in the arts and the wiles	E
of the cunning and crafty Algonkins	E
They cover their hearts with their smiles	E
and hide their suspicions of evil	Q
Round their low smouldering fire	J2
feigning sleep lie the watchful and wily Dakotas	E
But DuLuth and his voyageurs heap their fire	J2
that shall blaze till the morning	A2
Ere they lay themselves snugly to rest	W
with their guns by their side on the blankets	E
As if there were none to molest	W
but the ravening beasts of the forest	W
	-
'Tis midnight The rising moon gleams	E
weird and still o'er the dusky horizon	Q
Through the hushed somber forest she beams	E
and fitfully gloams on the meadows	E
And a dim glimmering pathway she paves	E
at times on the dark stretch of river	J2
The winds are asleep in the caves	E
in the heart of the far away mountains	E
And here on the meadows and there	J2
the lazy mists gather and hover	J2
And the lights of the Fen Spirits flare	J2
and dance on the low lying marshes	E
As still as the footsteps of death	F2
by the bed of the babe and its mother	J2
And hushed are the pines and beneath	G2
lie the weary limbed boatmen in slumber	J2
Walk softly walk softly O Moon	Q
through the gray broken clouds in thy pathway	C
For the earth lies asleep and the boon	Q
of repose is bestowed on the weary	W
Toiling hands have forgotten their care	J2
e'en the brooks have forgotten to murmur	J2
But hark there's a sound on the air	J2
'tis the light rustling robes of the Spirits	E
Like the breath of the night in the leaves	E
or the murmur of reeds on the river	J2
In the cool of the mid summer eves	E
when the blaze of the day has descended	W
Low crouching and shadowy forms	E
as still as the gray morning's footsteps	E
Creep sly as the serpent that charms	E
on her nest in the meadow the plover	J2
In the shadows of pine trunks they creep	B
but their panther eyes gleam in the fire light	W
As they peer on the white men asleep	B
in the glow of the fire on their blankets	E
Lo in each swarthy right hand a knife	E3
in the left hand the bow and the arrows	E
Brave Frenchmen awake to the strife	E3
or you sleep in the forest forever	J2
Nay nearer and nearer they glide	W
like ghosts on the fields of their battles	E
Till close on the sleepers they bide	W
but the signal of death from Tamdoka	A2
Still the sleepers sleep on	Q
Not a breath stirs the leaves of the awe stricken forest	W
The hushed air is heavy with death	F2
like the footsteps of death are the moments	E
Arise At the word with a bound	W
to their feet spring the vigilant Frenchmen	Q
And the dark dismal forests resound	W
to the crack and the roar of their rifles	E
And seven writhing forms on the ground	W
clutch the earth From the pine tops the screech owl	Q
Screams and flaps his wide wings in affright	W
and plunges away through the shadows	E
And swift on the wings of the night	W
flee the dim phantom forms of the spirit	W
Like cabris when white wolves pursue	E
fled the four yet remaining Dakotas	E
Through forest and fen land they flew	E
and wild terror howled on their footsteps	E
And one was Tamdoka DuLuth through the night	W
sent his voice like a trumpet	W
Ye are Sons of Unktehee forsooth	F2
Return to your mothers ye cowards	E
His shrill voice they heard as they fled	W
but only the echoes made answer	J2
At the feet of the brave Frenchmen dead	W
lay seven swarthy Sons of Unktehee	Q
And there in the midst of the slain	Q
they found as it gleamed in the fire light	W
The horn handled knife from the Seine	W
where it fell from the hand of Tamdoka	A2
	-
In the gray of the morn	Q
ere the sun peeped over the dewy horizon	Q
Their journey again was begun	Q
and they toiled up the swift winding river	J2
And many a shallow they passed	W
on their way to the Lake of the Spirits	E
But dauntless they reached it at last	W
and found Akee pa kee tin's village a	Q
On an isle in the midst of the lake	A2
and a day in his teepee they tarried	W
	-
a see Hennepin's account of Aqui pa que tin and his village	C2
Shea's Hennepin	Q
	-
Of the deed in the wilderness spake	A2
to the brave Chief the frank hearted Frenchman	Q
A generous man was the Chief	N2
and a friend of the fearless explorer	J2
And dark was his visage with grief	N2
at the treacherous act of the warriors	E
Brave Wazi Kute is a man	Q
and his heart is as clear as the sun light	W
But the head of a treacherous clan	Q
and a snake in the bush is Tamdoka	A2
Said the chief and he promised Duluth	F2
on the word of a friend and a warrior	J2
To carry the pipe and the truth	F2
to his cousin the chief at Kathaga	A2
For thrice at the Tanka Mede	W
had he smoked in the lodge of the Frenchman	Q
And thrice had he carried away	C
the bountiful gifts of the trader	J2
	-
When the chief could no longer prevail	Q
on the white men to rest in his teepee	B
He guided their feet on the trail	Q
to the lakes of the winding Rice River a	Q
Now on speeds the light bark canoe	E
through the lakes to the broad Gitchee Seebee b	W
And up the great river they row	J2
up the Big Sandy Lake and Savanna	Q
And down through the meadows they go	J2
to the river of broad Gitchee Gumee c	W
	-
a Now called Mud River it empties into the Mississippi at Aitkin	Q
b Gitchee seebee Big River the Ojibway name for the Mississippi	W
which is a corruption of Gitchee Seebee as Michigan is a corruption of	Y2
Gitchee Gumee Great Lake the Ojibway name of Lake Superior	J2
c The Ojibways call the St Louis River	J2
Gitchee Gumee See bee Great lake River i e the river of the Great Lake	A2
Lake Superior	J2
	-
Still onward they speed to the Dalles	E
to the roar of the white rolling rapids	E
Where the dark river tumbles and falls	E
down the ragged ravine of the mountains	E
And singing his wild jubilee	W
to the low moaning pines and the cedars	E
Rushes on to the unsalted sea	W
o'er the ledges upheaved by volcanoes	E
Their luggage the voyageurs bore	J2
down the long winding path of the portage a	Q
While they mingled their song	A2
with the roar of the turbid and turbulent waters	E
Down wimpling and murmuring there	J2
twixt two dewy hills winds a streamlet	W
Like a long flaxen ringlet of hair	J2
on the breast of a maid in her slumber	J2
	-
a The route of Duluth above described from the mouth of the Wild Rice	E
Mud River to Lake Superior was for centuries and still is the Indians'	E
canoe route I have walked over the old portage from the foot of the	Q
Dalles to the St Louis above trod by the feet of half breeds and	W
voyageurs for more than two centuries and by the Indians for	J2
perhaps a thousand years	E
	-
All safe at the foot of the trail	Q
where they left it they found their felucca	Q
And soon to the wind spread the sail	Q
and glided at ease through the waters	E
Through the meadows and lakelets and forth	F2
round the point stretching south like a finger	J2
From the mist wreathen hill on the north	F2
sloping down to the bay and the lake side	W
And behold at the foot of the hill	Q
a cluster of Chippewa wigwams	E
And the busy wives plying with skill	Q
their nets in the emerald waters	E
Two hundred white winters and more	J2
have fled from the face of the Summer	J2
Since DuLuth on that wild somber shore	J2
in the unbroken forest primeval	Q
From the midst of the spruce and the pines	E
saw the smoke of the wigwams up curling	A2
Like the fumes from the temples and shrines	E
of the Druids of old in their forests	E
Ah little he dreamed then forsooth	F2
that a city would stand on that hill side	W
And bear the proud name of Duluth	F2
the untiring and dauntless explorer	J2
A refuge for ships from the storms	E
and for men from the bee hives of Europe	B
Out stretching her long iron arms	E
o'er an empire of Saxons and Normans	E
	-
The swift west wind sang in the sails	E
and on flew the boat like a Sea Gull	Q
By the green templed hills and the dales	E
and the dark rugged rocks of the North Shore	J2
For the course of the brave Frenchman	Q
lay to his fort at the Gah mah na tek wahk	A2
By the shore of the grand Thunder Bay	C
where the gray rocks loom up into mountains	E
Where the Stone Giant sleeps on the Cape	B
and the god of the storms makes the thunder	J2
And the Makinak lifts his huge shape	B
from the breast of the blue rolling waters	E
And thence to the south westward led his course	E
to the Holy Ghost Mission	Q
Where the Black Robes the brave shepherds	E
fed their wild sheep on the isle Wau ga ba me	W
	-
In the enchanting Cha quam e gon Bay	C
defended by all the Apostles a	Q
And thence by the Ke we naw	Q
lay his course to the Mission Sainte Marie b	W
Now the waves drop their myriad hands	E
and streams the white hair of the surges	E
DuLuth at the steady helm stands	E
and he hums as he bounds o'er the billows	E
	-
O sweet is the carol of bird	W
And sweet is the murmur of streams	E
But sweeter the voice that I heard	W
In the night in the midst of my dreams	E
	-
a The Apostle Islands	E
b At the Saut St Marie	W
	-
'Tis the moon of the sere falling leaves	E
From the heads of the maples the west wind	W
Plucks the red and gold plumage	C2
and grieves on the meads for the rose and the lily	W
Their brown leaves the moaning oaks strew	E
and the breezes that roam on the prairies	E
Low whistling and wanton pursue	E
the down of the silk weed and thistle	Q
All sere are the prairies and brown	Q
in the glimmer and haze of the Autumn	Q
From the far northern marshes flock down	Q
by thousands the geese and the mallards	E
From the meadows and wide prairied plains	E
for their long southward journey preparing	A2
In croaking flocks gather the cranes	E
and choose with loud clamor their leaders	E
The breath of the evening is cold	W
and lurid along the horizon	Q
The flames of the prairies are rolled	W
on the somber skies flashing their torches	E
At noontide a shimmer of gold	W
through the haze pours the sun from his pathway	C
The wild rice is gathered and ripe	B
on the moors lie the scarlet po pan ka a	Q
Michabo is smoking his pipe	B
'tis the soft dreamy Indian Summer	J2
When the god of the South as he flies	E
from Waziya the god of the Winter	J2
For a time turns his beautiful eyes	E
and backward looks over his shoulder	J2
	-
a Cranberries	E
	-
It is noon From his path in the skies	E
the red sun looks down on Kathaga	A2
Asleep in the valley it lies	E
for the swift hunters follow the bison	Q
Ta te psin the aged brave bends	E
as he walks by the side of Winona	Q
Her arm to his left hand she lends	E
and he feels with his staff for the pathway	C
On his slow feeble footsteps attends	E
his gray dog the watchful Wichaka a	Q
For blind in his years is the chief	N2
of a fever that followed the Summer	J2
And the days of Ta te psin are brief	N2
Once more by the dark rolling river	J2
Sits the Chief in the warm dreamy haze	E
of the beautiful Summer in Autumn	Q
And the faithful dog lovingly lays his head	W
at the feet of his master	J2
On a dead withered branch sits a crow	J2
down peering askance at the old man	Q
On the marge of the river below	J2
romp the nut brown and merry voiced children	Q
And the dark waters silently flow	J2
broad and deep to the plunge of the Ha ha	Q
	-
a Wee chah kah literally Faithful	Q
	-
By his side sat Winona	Q
He laid his thin shriveled hand on her tresses	E
Winona my daughter he said	W
no longer thy father beholds thee	W
But he feels the long locks of thy hair	J2
and the days that are gone are remembered	W
When Sisoka a sat faithful and fair	J2
in the lodge of swift footed Ta te psin	Q
The white years have broken my spear	J2
from my bow they have taken the bow string	A2
But once on the trail of the deer	J2
like a gray wolf from sunrise till sunset	W
By woodland and meadow and mere	J2
ran the feet of Ta te psin untiring	A2
But dim are the days that are gone	Q
and darkly around me they wander	J2
Like the pale misty face of the moon	Q
when she walks through the storm of the winter	J2
And sadly they speak in my ear	J2
I have looked on the graves of my kindred	W
The Land of the Spirits is near	J2
Death walks by my side like a shadow	J2
Now open thine ear to my voice	E
and thy heart to the wish of thy father	J2
And long will Winona rejoice	E
that she heeded the words of Ta te psin	Q
The cold cruel winter is near	J2
and famine will sit in the teepee	B
What hunter will bring me the deer	J2
or the flesh of the bear or the bison	Q
For my kinsmen before me have gone	Q
they hunt in the land of the shadows	E
In my old age forsaken alone	Q
must I die in my teepee of hunger	J2
Winona Tamdoka can make my empty lodge	C2
laugh with abundance	E
For thine aged and blind father's sake	A2
to the son of the Chief speak the promise	E
For gladly again to my tee	W
will the bridal gifts come for my daughter	J2
A fleet footed hunter is he	W
and the good spirits feather his arrows	E
And the cold cruel winter	J2
will be a feast time instead of a famine	Q
	-
a The Robin the name of Winona's Mother	J2
	-
My father she said and her voice	E
was filial and full of compassion	Q
Would the heart of Ta te psin rejoice	E
at the death of Winona his daughter	J2
The crafty Tamdoka I hate	W
Must I die in his teepee of sorrow	J2
For I love the White Chief	N2
and I wait his return to the land of Dakotas	E
When the cold winds of winter return	Q
and toss the white robes of the prairies	E
The fire of the White Chief will burn	Q
in his lodge at the Meeting of Waters	E
Winona's heart followed his feet	W
far away to the land of the morning	A2
And she hears in her slumber	J2
his sweet kindly voice call the name of thy daughter	J2
My father abide I entreat	W
the return of the brave to Kathaga	A2
The wild rice is gathered	W
the meat of the bison is stored in the teepee	B
Till the Coon Moon enough and to spare	J2
and if then the white warrior return not	W
Winona will follow the bear and the coon	Q
to their dens in the forest	W
She is strong she can handle the spear	J2
she can bend the stout bow of the hunter	J2
And swift on the trail of the deer	J2
will she run o'er the snow on her snow shoes	E
Let the step mother sit in the tee	W
and kindle the fire for my father	J2
And the cold cruel winter shall be	W
a feast time instead of a famine	Q
The White Chief will never return	Q
half angrily muttered Ta te psin	Q
	-
His camp fire will nevermore burn	Q
in the land of the warriors he slaughtered	W
I grieve for my daughter has said	W
that she loves the false friend of her kindred	W
For the hands of the White Chief are red	W
with the blood of the trustful Dakotas	E
Then warmly Winona replied	W
Tamdoka himself is the traitor	J2
And the white hearted stranger had died	W
by his treacherous hand in the forest	W
But thy daughter's voice bade him beware	J2
of the sly death that followed his footsteps	E
The words of Tamdoka are fair	J2
but his heart is the den of the serpents	E
When the braves told their tale	Q
like a bird sang the heart of Winona rejoicing	A2
But gladlier still had she heard	W
of the death of the crafty Tamdoka	A2
The Chief will return he is bold	W
and he carries the fire of Wakinyan	Q
To our people the truth will be told	W
and Tamdoka will hide like a coward	W
His thin locks the aged brave shook	A2
to himself half inaudibly muttered	W
To Winona no answer he spoke	A2
only moaned he Micunksee Micunksee a	Q
In my old age forsaken and blind	W
Yun He he Micunksee Micunksee b	W
And Wichaka the pitying dog whined	W
as he looked on the face of his master	J2
	-
a My Daughter My Daughter	J2
b Alas O My Daughter My Daughter	J2
	-
Waziya came down from the North	F2
from his land of perpetual winter	J2
From his frost covered beard issued forth	F2
the sharp biting shrill whistling North wind	W
At the touch of his breath the wide earth turned to stone	Q
and the lakes and the rivers	E
From his nostrils the white vapors rose	E
and they covered the sky like a blanket	W
Like the down of Maga a fell the snows	E
tossed and whirled into heaps by the North wind	W
Then the blinding storms roared on the plains	E
like the simoons on sandy Sahara	Q
From the fangs of the fierce hurricanes	E
fled the elk and the deer and the bison	Q
Ever colder and colder it grew	E
till the frozen earth cracked and split open	Q
And harder and harder it blew	E
till the prairies were bare as the boulders	E
To the southward the buffaloes fled	W
and the white rabbits hid in their burrows	E
On the bare sacred mounds of the dead	W
howled the gaunt hungry wolves in the night time	F3
The strong hunters crouched in their tees	E
by the lodge fires the little ones shivered	W
And the Magic Men b danced to appease	E
in their teepee the wrath of Waziya	G3
But famine and fatal disease	E
like phantoms crept into the village	C2
The Hard Moon c was past but the moon	Q
when the coons make their trails in the forest d	W
Grew colder and colder The coon or the bear	J2
ventured not from his cover	J2
For the cold cruel Arctic Simoon swept the earth	F2
like the breath of a furnace	E
In the tee of Ta te psin the store of wild rice	E
and dried meat was exhausted	W
And Famine crept in at the door	J2
and sat crouching and gaunt by the lodge fire	J2
But now with the saddle of deer	J2
and the gifts came the crafty Tamdoka	A2
And he said Lo I bring you good cheer	J2
for I love the blind Chief and his daughter	J2
Take the gifts of Tamdoka	A2
for dear to his heart is the dark eyed Winona	Q
The aged chief opened his ears	E
in his heart he already consented	W
But the moans of his child and her tears	E
touched the age softened heart of the father	J2
And he said I am burdened with years	E
I am bent by the snows of my winters	E
Ta te psin will die in his tee	W
let him pass to the Land of the Spirits	E
But Winona is young she is free	W
and her own heart shall choose her a husband	W
The dark warrior strode from the tee	W
low muttering and grim he departed	W
Let him die in his lodge muttered he	W
but Winona shall kindle my lodge fire	J2
	-
a Wild goose	E
b Medicine men	Q
c January	W
d February	W
	-
Then forth went Winona The bow of Ta te psin	Q
she took and his arrows	E
And afar o'er the deep drifted snow	Q
through the forest she sped on her snow shoes	E
Over meadow and ice covered mere	J2
through the thickets of red oak and hazel	Q
She followed the tracks of the deer	J2
but like phantoms they fled from her vision	Q
From sunrise till sunset she sped	W
half famished she camped in the thicket	W
In the cold snow she made her lone bed	W
on the buds of the birch a made her supper	J2
To the dim moon the gray owl preferred	W
from the tree top his shrill lamentation	Q
And around her at midnight she heard	W
the dread famine cries of the gray wolves	E
In the gloam of the morning again	Q
on the trail of the red deer she followed	W
All day long through the thickets in vain	Q
for the gray wolves were chasing the roebucks	E
And the cold hungry winds from the plain	Q
chased the wolves and the deer and Winona	Q
	-
a The pheasant feeds on birch buds in winter Indians eat them when very	W
hungry	W
	-
In the twilight of sundown she sat	W
in the forest all weak and despairing	A2
Ta te psin's bow lay at her feet	W
and his otter skin quiver of arrows	E
He promised he promised she said	W
half dreamily uttered and mournful	Q
And why comes he not Is he dead	W
Was he slain by the crafty Tamdoka	A2
Must Winona alas make her choice	E
make her choice between death and Tamdoka	A2
She will die but her soul will rejoice	E
in the far Summer land of the spirits	E
Hark I hear his low musical voice	E
He is coming My White Chief is coming	A2
Ah no I am half in a dream	I2
'twas the mem'ry of days long departed	W
But the birds of the green Summer	J2
seem to be singing above in the branches	E
Then forth from her bosom she drew	E
the crucified Jesus in silver	J2
In her dark hair the cold north wind blew	E
as meekly she bent o'er the image	C2
O Christ of the White man she prayed	W
lead the feet of my brave to Kathaga	A2
Send a good spirit down to my aid	W
or the friend of the White Chief will perish	H3
Then a smile on her wan features played	W
and she lifted her pale face and chanted	W
	-
E ye he kta E ye he kta	W
He kta ce e ye ce quon	Q
Mi Wamdee ska he he kta	W
He kta ce e ye ce quon	Q
Mi Wamdee ska	A2
	-
TRANSLATION	Q
	-
He will come he will come	Q
He will come for he promised	W
My White Eagle he will come	Q
He will come for he promised	W
My White Eagle	Q
	-
Thus sadly she chanted and lo	Q
allured by her sorrowful accents	E
From the dark covert crept a red doe	Q
and wondrously gazed on Winona	Q
Then swift caught the huntress her bow	L2
from her trembling hand hummed the keen arrow	Q
Up leaped the red gazer and fled	W
but the white snow was sprinkled with scarlet	W
And she fell in the oak thicket dead	W
On the trail ran the eager Winona	Q
Half famished the raw flesh she ate	W
To the hungry maid sweet was her supper	J2
Then swift through the night ran her feet	W
and she trailed the sleek red deer behind her	J2
And the guide of her steps was a star	J2
the cold glinting star of Waziya a	Q
Over meadow and hilltop afar	J2
on the way to the lodge of her father	J2
But hark on the keen frosty air	J2
wind the shrill hunger howls of the gray wolves	E
And nearer still nearer	J2
the blood of the doe have they scented and follow	Q
Through the thicket the meadow	Q
the wood dash the pack on the trail of Winona	Q
Swift she speeds with her burden	Q
but swift on her track fly the minions of famine	Q
Now they yell on the view from the drift	W
in the reeds at the marge of the meadow	Q
Red gleam their wild ravenous eyes	E
for they see on the hill side their supper	J2
The dark forest echoes their cries	E
but her heart is the heart of a warrior	J2
From its sheath snatched Winona her knife	E3
and a leg from the red doe she severed	W
With the carcass she ran for her life	E3
to a low branching oak ran the maiden	Q
Round the deer's neck her head strap b was tied	W
swiftly she sprang to the arms of the oak tree	W
Quick her burden she drew to her side	W
and higher she clomb on the branches	E
While the maddened wolves battled and bled	W
dealing death o'er the leg to each other	J2
Their keen fangs devouring the dead	W
yea devouring the flesh of the living	A2
They raved and they gnashed and they growled	W
like the fiends in the regions infernal	Q
The wide night re echoing howled	W
and the hoarse North wind laughed o'er the slaughter	J2
But their ravenous maws unappeased	W
by the blood and the flesh of their fellows	E
To the cold wind their muzzles they raised	W
and the trail to the oak tree they followed	W
Round and round it they howled for the prey	C
madly leaping and snarling and snapping	A2
But the brave maiden's keen arrows slay	C
till the dead number more than the living	A2
All the long dreary night time at bay	C
in the oak sat the shivering Winona	Q
But the sun gleamed at last and away	C
skulked the gray cowards c down through the forest	W
Then down dropped the doe and the maid	W
Ere the sun reached the midst of his journey	W
Her red welcome burden she laid	W
at the feet of her famishing father	J2
	-
a Waziya's Star is the North Star	J2
b A strap used in carrying burdens	E
c Wolves sometimes attack people at night but rarely if ever in the day	C
time If they have followed a hunter all night or treed him they will	Q
skulk away as soon as the sun rises	E
	-
Waziya's wild wrath was appeased	W
and homeward he turned to his teepee	B
O'er the plains and the forest land breezed	W
from the Islands of Summer the South wind	W
From their dens came the coon and the bear	J2
o'er the snow through the woodlands they wandered	W
On her snow shoes with stout bow and spear	J2
on their trails ran the huntress Winona	Q
The coon to his den in the tree	W
and the bear to his burrow she followed	W
A brave skillful hunter was she	W
and Ta te psin's lodge laughed with abundance	E
	-
The long winter wanes On the wings	E
of the spring come the geese and the mallards	E
On the bare oak the red robin sings	E
and the crocuses peep on the prairies	E
And the bobolink pipes but he brings	E
of the blue eyed brave White Chief no tidings	E
With the waning of winter alas	E
waned the life of the aged Tatepsin	Q
Ere the blue pansies peeped from the grass	E
to the Land of the Spirits he journeyed	W
Like a babe in its slumber he passed	W
or the snow from the hill tops in April	Q
And the dark eyed Winona at last	W
stood alone by the graves of her kindred	W
When their myriad mouths opened the trees	E
to the sweet dew of heaven and the rain drops	E
And the April showers fell on the leas	E
on his mound fell the tears of Winona	Q
Round her drooping form gathered the years	E
and the spirits unseen of her kindred	W
As low in the midst of her tears	E
at the grave of her father she chanted	W
	-
E yo tan han e yay wah ke yay	C
E yo tan han e yay wah ke yay	C
E yo tan han e yay wah ke yay	C
Ma kah kin hay chay dan tay han wan kay	C
Tu way ne ktay snee e yay chen e wah chay	W
E yo tan han e yay wah ke yay	C
E yo tan han e yay wah ke yay	C
Ma kah kin hay chay dan tay han wan kay	C
	-
TRANSLATION	Q
	-
Sore is my sorrow	Q
Sore is my sorrow	Q
Sore is my sorrow	Q
The earth alone lasts	E
I speak as one dying	A2
Sore is my sorrow	Q
Sore is my sorrow	Q
The earth alone lasts	E
	-
Still hope like a star in the night	W
gleaming oft through the broken clouds somber	J2
Cheered the heart of Winona and bright	W
on her dreams beamed the face of the Frenchman	Q
As the thought of a loved one and lost	W
sad and sweet were her thoughts of the White Chief	N2
In the moon's mellow light like a ghost	W
walked Winona alone by the Ha ha	Q
Ever wrapped in a dream Far away	C
to the land of the sunrise she wandered	W
On the blue rolling Tanka Mede a	Q
in the midst of her dreams she beheld him	U2
In his white winged canoe like a bird	W
to the land of Dakotas returning	A2
And often in fancy she heard	W
the dip of his oars on the river	J2
On the dark waters glimmered the moon	Q
but she saw not the boat of the Frenchman	Q
On the somber night bugled the loon	Q
but she heard not the song of the boatmen	Q
The moon waxed and waned but the star	J2
of her hope never waned to the setting	A2
Through her tears she beheld it afar	J2
like a torch on the eastern horizon	Q
He will come he is coming she said	W
he will come for my White Eagle promised	W
And low to the bare earth the maid	W
bent her ear for the sound of his footsteps	E
He is gone but his voice in my ear	J2
still remains like the voice of the robin	Q
He is far but his footsteps I hear	J2
he is coming my White Chief is coming	A2
	-
a Lake Superior The Gitchee Gumee of the Chippewas	E
	-
But the moon waxed and waned Nevermore	J2
will the eyes of Winona behold him	U2
Far away on the dark rugged shore	J2
of the blue Gitchee Gumee he lingers	E
No tidings the rising sun brings	E
no tidings the star of the evening	A2
But morning and evening she sings	E
like a turtle doe widowed and waiting	A2
	-
Ake u ake u ake u	E
Ma cante maseca	A2
Ake u ake u ake u	E
Ma cante maseca	A2
	-
Come again come again come again	Q
For my heart is sad	W
Come again come again come again	Q
For my heart is sad	W
	-
Down the broad Gitchee Seebee a	Q
the band took their way to the Games at Keoza	E
While the swift footed hunters by land	W
ran the shores for the elk and the bison	Q
Like magas b ride the birchen canoes	E
on the breast of the dark Gitchee Seebee	C
By the willow fringed islands they cruise	E
by the grassy hills green to their summits	E
By the lofty bluffs hooded with oaks	E
that darken the deep with their shadows	E
And bright in the sun gleam the strokes	E
of the oars in the hands of the women	Q
With the band went Winona	Q
The oar plied the maid with the skill of a hunter	J2
They loitered and camped on the shore of Remnica	A2
the Lake of the Mountains c	A2
There the fleet hunters followed the deer	J2
and the thorny pahin d for the women	Q
	-
a Chippewa name of the Mississippi	A2
b Wild Geese	E
c Lake Pepin by Hennepin called Lake of Tears Called by the Dakotas	E
Remnee chah Mday Lake of the Mountains	E
d Pah hin the porcupine the quill of which are greatly prized for	J2
ornamental work	A2
	-
From the tees rose the smoke of good cheer	J2
curling blue through the tops of the maples	E
Near the foot of a cliff that arose	E
like the battle scarred walls of a castle	Q
Up towering in rugged repose	E
to a dizzy height over the waters	E
	-
But the man wolf still followed his prey	C
and the step mother ruled in the tepee	A2
Her will must Winona obey	C
by the custom and law of Dakotas	E
The gifts to the teepee were brought	W
the blankets and beads of the White men	Q
And Winona the orphaned was bought	W
by the crafty relentless Tamdoka	A2
In the Spring time of life	E3
in the flush of the gladsome mid May days of Summer	J2
When the bobolink sang and the thrush	W
and the red robin chirped in the branches	E
To the tent of the brave must she go	A2
she must kindle the fire in his tepee	A2
She must sit in the lodge of her foe	A2
as a slave at the feet of her master	J2
Alas for her waiting	A2
the wings of the East wind have brought her no tidings	E
On the meadow the meadow lark sings	E
but sad is her song to Winona	Q
For the glad warblers melody brings	E
but the memory of voices departed	W
	-
The Day Spirit walked in the west	W
to his lodge in the land of the shadows	E
His shining face gleamed on the crest	W
of the oak hooded hills and the mountains	E
And the meadow lark hied to her nest	W
and the mottled owl peeped from her cover	J2
But hark from the teepees a cry	J2
Hear the shouts of the hurrying warriors	E
Are the steps of the enemy nigh	J2
of the crafty and creeping Ojibways	E
Nay look on the dizzy cliff high	J2
on the brink of the cliff stands Winona	Q
Her sad face up turned to the sky Hark	A2
I hear the wild chant of her death song	A2
	-
My Father's Spirit look down look down	Q
From your hunting grounds in the shining skies	E
Behold for the light of my soul is gone	Q
The light is gone and Winona dies	E
	-
I looked to the East but I saw no star	J2
The face of my White Chief was turned away	C
I harked for his footsteps in vain afar	J2
His bark sailed over the Sunrise sea	E
	-
Long have I watched till my heart is cold	W
In my breast it is heavy and cold as stone	Q
No more shall Winona his face behold	W
And the robin that sang in her heart is gone	Q
	-
Shall I sit at the feet of the treacherous brave	Z2
On his hateful couch shall Winona lie	J2
Shall she kindle his fire like a coward slave	Z2
No a warrior's daughter can bravely die	J2
	-
My Father's Spirit look down look down	Q
From your hunting grounds in the shining skies	E
Behold for the light of my soul is gone	Q
The light is gone and Winona dies	E
	-
Swift the strong hunters clomb as she sang	A2
and the foremost of all was Tamdoka	A2
From crag to crag upward he sprang	A2
like a panther he leaped to the summit	W
Too late on the brave as he crept	W
turned the maid in her scorn and defiance	E
Then swift from the dizzy height leaped	W
Like a brant arrow pierced in mid heaven	Q
Down whirling and fluttering she fell	Q
and headlong plunged into the waters	E
Forever she sank mid the wail	Q
and the wild lamentation of women	Q
Her lone spirit evermore dwells	E
in the depths of the Lake of the Mountains	E
And the lofty cliff evermore tells	E
to the years as they pass her sad story a	Q
In the silence of sorrow the night	W
o'er the earth spread her wide sable pinions	E
And the stars hid their faces	E
and light on the lake fell the tears of the spirits	E
As her sad sisters watched on the shore	J2
for her spirit to rise from the waters	E
They heard the swift dip of an oar	J2
and a boat they beheld like a shadow	A2
Gliding down through the night	W
in the gray gloaming mists on the face of the waters	E
'Twas the bark of DuLuth on his way	C
from the Falls to the Games at Keoza	E
	-
a The Dakotas say that the spirit of Winona forever haunts the lake	A2
They say that it was many many winters ago when Winona leaped from the	Q
rock that the rock was then perpendicular to the water's edge and she	E
leaped into the lake but now the rock has worn away or the water has	E
receded so that it does not reach the foot of the rock	A2

Hanford Lennox Gordon

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