Winona (ii) Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABACADAE FGHI JCJGJKLMNAOCPMAQAAAR AAASAAAMAETATCACACAA AAUAUVAAAAWAWA XGYCAEV JCJAEAZEA2CA2AAAACB2 AB2AC2GC2D2E2CE2F2GE 2GC G2H2 GWGE2GI2AEAJ2AE2AAK2 L2K2E2M2N2M2AO2RO2P2 B2E2B2YQ2AAE2 PFA GAGE2R2AR2J2E2AE2S2A YAAAL2AT2N2GN2E2U2EV 2S2AAAM EW2 X2AX2AARAE2AE2AAAE2U GUMCRX2Y2URUAO2L2WAY CZ2AN2S2N2AA3J2D2A RV ECA3EB3E2B3WC2E2C2CA 3AA3C3GE2D3E2 E3A AE2AC3M2AE2E2PEC3AE2 AAC3F3AG3G CEAV M2AM2CACAH3E2C3E2C3C 3AC3CI3H3I3C3 J3CJ3RK3C3E2AAC C3CC3CAC3CCC3E2C3GC3 C AGC3YC3CGAC3GC3E L3 AC3AAACACAMAC3GMC3GC 3AC3AC3EC3GC3AM3GAAN 3CAA REE2C3 O3AO3AB2C3 CAE2C3 AC3E2E C3AC3AC3A A I3CE2AC3AC3E2C3AC3E2 C3C3C3AC3CAAC3E2C3AC 3AC3E2ACARC3P3C3AE2R C3Q3C3Q3C3AI3AI3E2E2 E2E2G AAACAAE2CE2C3ACAAE2A E2CAAAACACC3AQ3AAAAC 3AE2AE2AE2Q3 E2GC3E2AE2AAC3AC3Q3E 2AE2RC3E2CM C3AC3MAAAACQ3CACAC3E 2C3Q3E2MC3AC3C3C3AC3 C CAE2 AAACR3AC3ACE2CQ3CC3C E2CA AE2AAC3CE2RC3CC3C3C3 AAA E2CE2Q3C3AC3CC3C3C3A C3CC3AC3C3E2CCQ3CRC3 CC3C3 AAC3E3 S3CS3E2C3C3C3CC3C3C3 E2 C C3C3C3RAC3AMC3CC3CC3 Q3C3E2E2CE2CT3E2E2CA AC3CYC3YQ3 CACACYCE2CYCC Q3AQ3E2CC3AC3C3Q3C3C Q3U3Q3C3C3C3C3C3C3C3 C3Q3AAC3C3AYC3C3C3C3 C3C3AAAC3AE2 C3Q3C3C3C3C3C3M

When the meadow lark trilled o'er the leas	A
and the oriole piped in the maples	B
From my hammock all under the trees	A
by the sweet scented field of red clover	C
I harked to the hum of the bees	A
as they gathered the mead of the blossoms	D
And caught from their low melodies	A
the rhythm of the song of Winona	E
	-
In pronouncing Dakota words give a the sound of	F
ah e the sound of a i the sound of e	G
and u the sound of oo Sound ee the same as in	H
English	I
	-
Two hundred white Winters and more	J
have fled from the face of the Summer	C
Since here on the oak shaded shore	J
of the dark winding swift Mississippi	G
Where his foaming floods tumble and roar	J
on the falls and white rolling rapids	K
In the fair fabled center of Earth	L
sat the Indian town of Ka tha ga	M
Far rolling away to the north and the south	N
lay the emerald prairies	A
Alternate with woodlands and lakes	O
and above them the blue vast of ether	C
And here where the dark river breaks into spray	P
and the roar of the Ha Ha	M
Were gathered the bison skin tees	A
of the chief tawny tribe of Dakotas	Q
For here in the blast and the breeze	A
flew the flag of the chief of Isantees	A
Up raised on the stem of a lance	A
the feathery flag of the eagle	R
And here to the feast and the dance	A
from the prairies remote and the forests	A
Oft gathered the out lying bands	A
and honored the gods of the nation	S
On the islands and murmuring strands	A
they danced to the god of the waters	A
Unktehee who dwelt in the caves	A
deep under the flood of the Ha Ha	M
And high o'er the eddies and waves	A
hung their offerings of fur and tobacco a	E
And here to the Master of life	T
Anpe tu wee god of the heavens	A
Chief warrior and maiden and wife	T
burned the sacred green sprigs of the cedar	C
And here to the Searcher of hearts	A
fierce Ta ku Skan skan the avenger	C
Who dwells in the uttermost parts	A
in the earth and the blue starry ether	C
Ever watching with all seeing eyes	A
the deeds of the wives and the warriors	A
As an osprey afar in the skies	A
sees the fish as they swim in the waters	A
Oft spread they the bison tongue feast	U
and singing preferred their petitions	A
Till the Day Spirit rose in the East	U
in the red rosy robes of the morning	V
To sail o'er the sea of the skies	A
to his lodge in the land of the shadows	A
Where the black winged tornadoes b arise	A
rushing loud from the mouths of their caverns	A
And here with a shudder they heard	W
flying far from his tee in the mountains	A
Wa kin yan the huge Thunder Bird	W
with the arrows of fire in his talons	A
	-
a See Hennepin's Description of Louisiana by Shea pp and	X
Parkman's Discovery p and Carver's Travels p	G
b The Dakotas like the ancient Romans and Greeks think the home	Y
of the winds is in the caverns of the mountains and their great Thunder	C
bird resembles in many respects the Jupiter of the Romans and the Zeus	A
of the Greeks The resemblance of the Dakota mythology to that of the	E
older Greeks and Romans is striking	V
	-
Two hundred white Winters and more	J
have fled from the face of the Summer	C
Since here by the cataract's roar	J
in the moon of the red blooming lilies	A
In the tee of Ta te psin a was born Winona	E
wild rose of the prairies	A
Like the summer sun peeping at morn	Z
o'er the hills was the face of Winona	E
And here she grew up like a queen	A2
a romping and lily lipped laughter	C
And danced on the undulant green	A2
and played in the frolicsome waters	A
Where the foaming tide tumbles and twirls	A
o'er the murmuring rocks in the rapids	A
And whiter than foam were the pearls	A
that gleamed in the midst of her laughter	C
Long and dark was her flowing hair flung	B2
like the robe of the night to the breezes	A
And gay as the robin she sung	B2
or the gold breasted lark of the meadows	A
Like the wings of the wind were her feet	C2
and as sure as the feet of Ta to ka b	G
And oft like an antelope fleet	C2
o'er the hills and the prairies she bounded	D2
Lightly laughing in sport as she ran	E2
and looking back over her shoulder	C
At the fleet footed maiden or man	E2
that vainly her flying steps followed	F2
The belle of the village was she	G
and the pride of the aged Ta te psin	E2
Like a sunbeam she lighted his tee	G
and gladdened the heart of her father	C
	-
a Ta te Wind Psin Wild Rice wild rice wind	G2
b The Mountain Antelope	H2
	-
In the golden hued Wazu pe wee	G
the moon when the wild rice is gathered	W
When the leaves on the tall sugar tree	G
are as red as the breast of the robin	E2
And the red oaks that border the lea	G
are aflame with the fire of the sunset	I2
From the wide waving fields of wild rice	A
from the meadows of Psin ta wak pa dan a	E
Where the geese and the mallards rejoice	A
and grow fat on the bountiful harvest	J2
Came the hunters with saddles of moose	A
and the flesh of the bear and the bison	E2
And the women in birchen canoes	A
well laden with rice from the meadows	A
With the tall dusky hunters behold	K2
came a marvelous man or a spirit	L2
White faced and so wrinkled and old	K2
and clad in the robe of the raven	E2
Unsteady his steps were and slow	M2
and he walked with a staff in his right hand	N2
And white as the first falling snow	M2
were the thin locks that lay on his shoulders	A
Like rime covered moss hung his beard	O2
flowing down from his face to his girdle	R
And wan was his aspect and weird	O2
and often he chanted and mumbled	P2
In a strange and mysterious tongue	B2
as he bent o'er his book in devotion	E2
Or lifted his dim eyes and sung	B2
in a low voice the solemn Te Deum	Y
Or Latin or Hebrew or Greek	Q2
all the same were his words to the warriors	A
All the same to the maids	A
and the meek wide wondering eyed hazel brown children	E2
	-
a Little Rice River It bears the name of Rice Creek to day	P
and empties into the Mississippi from the east a few miles above	F
Minneapolis	A
	-
Father Rene Menard a it was he	G
long lost to his Jesuit brothers	A
Sent forth by an holy decree	G
to carry the Cross to the heathen	E2
In his old age abandoned to die	R2
in the swamps by his timid companions	A
He prayed to the Virgin on high	R2
and she led him forth from the forest	J2
For angels she sent him as men	E2
in the forms of the tawny Dakotas	A
And they led his feet from the fen	E2
from the slough of despond and the desert	S2
Half dead in a dismal morass	A
as they followed the red deer they found him	Y
In the midst of the mire and the grass	A
and mumbling Te Deum laudamus	A
Unktomee Ho muttered the braves	A
for they deemed him the black Spider Spirit	L2
That dwells in the drearisome caves	A
and walks on the marshes at midnight	T2
With a flickering torch in his hand	N2
to decoy to his den the unwary	G
His tongue could they not understand	N2
but his torn hands all shriveled with famine	E2
He stretched to the hunters and said	U2
He feedeth his chosen with manna	E
And ye are the angels of God	V2
sent to save me from death in the desert	S2
His famished and woe begone face	A
and his tones touched the hearts of the hunters	A
They fed the poor father apace	A
and they led him away to Ka tha ga	M
	-
a See the account of Father Menard his mission and disappearance in the	E
wilderness etc Neill's Hist Minnesota pp to inc	W2
	-
There little by little he learned	X2
the tongue of the tawny Dakotas	A
And the heart of the good father yearned	X2
to lead them away from their idols	A
Their giants and dread Thunder birds	A
their worship of stones and the devil	R
Wakan de a they answered his words	A
for he read from his book in the Latin	E2
Lest the Nazarene's holy commands	A
by his tongue should be marred in translation	E2
And oft with his beads in his hands	A
or the cross and the crucified Jesus	A
He knelt by himself on the sands	A
and his dim eyes uplifted to heaven	E2
But the braves bade him look to the East	U
to the silvery lodge of Han nan na b	G
And to dance with the chiefs at the feast	U
at the feast of the Giant Heyo ka	M
They frowned when the good father	C
spurned the flesh of the dog in the kettle	R
And laughed when his fingers were burned	X2
in the hot boiling pot of the giant	Y2
The Blackrobe they called the poor priest	U
from the hue of his robe and his girdle	R
And never a game or a feast	U
but the father must grace with his presence	A
His prayer book the hunters revered	O2
they deemed it a marvelous spirit	L2
It spoke and the white father heard	W
it interpreted visions and omens	A
And often they bade him	Y
to pray this marvelous spirit to answer	C
And tell where the sly Chippeway might be ambushed	Z2
and slain in his forests	A
For Menard was the first in the land	N2
proclaiming like John in the desert	S2
The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand	N2
repent ye and turn from your idols	A
The first of the brave brotherhood that	A3
threading the fens and the forest	J2
Stood afar by the turbulent flood	D2
at the falls of the Father of Waters	A
	-
a It is wonderful	R
b The morning	V
	-
In the lodge of the Stranger a	E
he sat awaiting the crown of a martyr	C
His sad face compassion begat	A3
in the heart of the dark eyed Winona	E
Oft she came to the teepee and spoke	B3
she brought him the tongue of the bison	E2
Sweet nuts from the hazel and oak	B3
and flesh of the fawn and the mallard	W
Soft hanpa b she made for his feet	C2
and leggins of velvety fawn skin	E2
A blanket of beaver complete	C2
and a hood of the hide of the otter	C
And oft at his feet on the mat	A3
deftly braiding the flags and the rushes	A
Till the sun sought his teepee she sat	A3
enchanted with what he related	C3
Of the white winged ships on the sea	G
and the teepees far over the ocean	E2
Of the love and the sweet charity of the Christ	D3
and the beautiful Virgin	E2
	-
a A lodge set apart for guests of the village	E3
b Moccasins	A
	-
She listened like one in a trance	A
when he spoke of the brave bearded Frenchmen	E2
From the green sun lit valleys of France	A
to the wild Hochelaga a transplanted	C3
Oft trailing the deserts of snow	M2
in the heart of the dense Huron forests	A
Or steering the dauntless canoe	E2
through the waves of the fresh water ocean	E2
Yea stronger and braver are they	P
said the aged Menard to Winona	E
Than the head chief tall Wazi kute	C3
but their words are as soft as a maiden's	A
Their eyes are the eyes of the swan	E2
but their hearts are the hearts of the eagles	A
And the terrible Maza Wakan b ever walks	A
by their side like a spirit	C3
Like a Thunder bird roaring in wrath	F3
flinging fire from his terrible talons	A
It sends to their enemies death	G3
in the flash of the fatal Wakandee c	G
	-
a The Ottawa name for the region of the St Lawrence River	C
b Mysterious metal or metal having a spirit in it This is the	E
common name applied by the Dakotas to all fire arms	A
c Lightning	V
	-
The Autumn was past and the snow	M2
lay drifted and deep on the prairies	A
From his teepee of ice came the foe	M2
came the storm breathing god of the winter	C
Then roared in the groves on the plains	A
on the ice covered lakes and the river	C
The blasts of the fierce hurricanes	A
blown abroad from the breast of Waziya	H3
The bear cuddled down in his den	E2
and the elk fled away to the forest	C3
The pheasant and gray prairie hen	E2
made their beds in the heart of the snow drift	C3
The bison herds huddled and stood	C3
in the hollows and under the hill sides	A
Or rooted the snow for their food	C3
in the lee of the bluffs and the timber	C
And the mad winds that howled from the north	I3
from the ice covered seas of Waziya	H3
Chased the gray wolf and red fox and swarth	I3
to their dens in the hills of the forest	C3
	-
Poor Father Menard he was ill	J3
in his breast burned the fire of the fever	C
All in vain was the magical skill	J3
of Wicasta Wakan with his rattle	R
Into soft child like slumber he fell	K3
and awoke in the land of the blessed	C3
To the holy applause of Well done	E2
and the harps in the hands of the angels	A
Long he carried the cross	A
and he won the coveted crown of a martyr	C
	-
In the land of the heathen he died	C3
meekly following the voice of his Master	C
One mourner alone by his side	C3
Ta te psin's compassionate daughter	C
She wailed the dead father with tears	A
and his bones by her kindred she buried	C3
Then winter followed winter	C
The years sprinkled frost on the head of her father	C
And three weary winters she dreamed	C3
of the fearless and fair bearded Frenchmen	E2
In her sweet sleep their swift paddles gleamed	C3
on the breast of the broad Mississippi	G
And the eyes of the brave strangers beamed	C3
on the maid in the midst of her slumber	C
	-
She lacked not admirers	A
the light of the lover oft burned in her teepee	G
At her couch in the midst of the night	C3
but she never extinguished the flambeau	Y
The son of Chief Wazi kute	C3
a fearless and eagle plumed warrior	C
Long sighed for Winona and he	G
was the pride of the band of Isantees	A
Three times in the night at her bed	C3
had the brave held the torch of the lover And thrice had she	G
covered her head	C3
and rejected the handsome Tamdoka a	E
	-
a Tah mdo kah literally the buck deer	L3
	-
'Twas Summer The merry voiced birds	A
trilled and warbled in woodland and meadow	C3
And abroad on the prairies the herds	A
cropped the grass in the land of the lilies	A
And sweet was the odor of rose	A
wide wafted from hillside and heather	C
In the leaf shaded lap of repose	A
lay the bright blue eyed babes of the summer	C
And low was the murmur of brooks	A
and low was the laugh of the Ha Ha	M
And asleep in the eddies and nooks	A
lay the broods of maga and the mallard	C3
'Twas the moon of Wasunpa	G
The band lay at rest in the tees at Ka tha ga	M
And abroad o'er the beautiful land	C3
walked the spirits of Peace and of Plenty	G
Twin sisters with bountiful hand	C3
wide scatt'ring wild rice and the lilies	A
An pe tu wee walked in the west	C3
to his lodge in the midst of the mountains	A
And the war eagle flew to her nest	C3
in the oak on the Isle of the Spirit a	E
And now at the end of the day	C3
by the shore of the Beautiful Island b	G
A score of fair maidens and gay	C3
made joy in the midst of the waters	A
Half robed in their dark flowing hair	M3
and limbed like the fair Aphrodite	G
They played in the waters	A
and there they dived and they swam like the beavers	A
Loud laughing like loons on the lake	N3
when the moon is a round shield of silver	C
And the songs of the whippowils	A
wake on the shore in the midst of the maples	A
	-
a The Dakotas say that for many years in olden times a war eagle	R
made her nest in an oak tree on Spirit island Wanagi wita just below the	E
Falls till frightened away by the advent of white men	E2
b The Dakotas called Nicollet Island Wi ta Waste the Beautiful Island	C3
	-
But hark on the river a song	O3
strange voices commingled in chorus	A
On the current a boat swept along	O3
with DuLuth and his hardy companions	A
To the stroke of their paddles they sung	B2
and this the refrain that they chanted	C3
	-
Dans mon chemin j'ai recontre	C
Deux cavaliers bien montees	A
Lon lon laridon daine	E2
Lon lon laridon dai	C3
	-
Deux cavaliers bien montees	A
L'un a cheval et l'autre a pied	C3
Lon lon laridon daine	E2
Lon lon laridon dai a	E
	-
Like the red dappled deer in the glade	C3
alarmed by the footsteps of hunters	A
Discovered disordered dismayed	C3
the nude nymphs fled forth from the waters	A
And scampered away to the shade	C3
and peered from the screen of the lindens	A
	-
a A part of one of the favorite songs of the French voyageurs	A
	-
A bold and and adventuresome man was DuLuth	I3
and a dauntless in danger	C
And straight to Kathaga he ran	E2
and boldly advanced to the warriors	A
Now gathering a cloud on the strand	C3
and gazing amazed on the strangers	A
And straightway he offered his hand	C3
unto Wazi kute the Itancan	E2
To the Lodge of the Stranger were led	C3
DuLuth and his hardy companions	A
Robes of beaver and bison were spread	C3
and the Peace pipe was smoked with the Frenchman	E2
	-
There was dancing and feasting at night	C3
and joy at the presents he lavished	C3
All the maidens were wild with delight	C3
with the flaming red robes and the ribbons	A
With the beads and the trinkets untold	C3
and the fair bearded face of the giver	C
And glad were they all to behold the friends	A
from the Land of the Sunrise	A
But one stood apart from the rest	C3
the queenly and peerless Winona	E2
Intently regarding the guest	C3
hardly heeding the robes and the ribbons	A
Whom the White Chief beholding admired	C3
and straightway he spread on her shoulders	A
A lily red robe and attired	C3
with necklet and ribbons the maiden	E2
The red lilies bloomed in her face	A
and her glad eyes gave thanks to the giver	C
And forth from her teepee apace	A
she brought him the robe and the missal	R
Of the father poor Rene Menard	C3
and related the tale of the Black Robe	P3
She spoke of the sacred regard	C3
he inspired in the hearts of Dakotas	A
That she buried his bones with her kin	E2
in the mound by the Cave of the Council	R
That she treasured and wrapt	C3
in the skin of the red deer his robe and his prayer book	Q3
Till his brothers should come from the East	C3
from the land of the far Hochelaga	Q3
To smoke with the braves at the feast	C3
on the shores of the Loud laughing Waters	A
For the Black Robe spake much of his youth	I3
and his friends in the Land of the Sunrise	A
It was then as a dream now in truth	I3
I behold them and not in a vision	E2
But more spake her blushes I ween	E2
and her eyes full of language unspoken	E2
As she turned with the grace of a queen	E2
and carried her gifts to the teepee	G
	-
Far away from his beautiful France	A
from his home in the city of Lyons	A
A noble youth full of romance	A
with a Norman heart big with adventure	C
In the new world a wanderer by chance	A
DuLuth sought the wild Huron forests	A
But afar by the vale of the Rhone	E2
the winding and musical river	C
And the vine covered hills of the Saone	E2
the heart of the wanderer lingered	C3
'Mid the vineyards and mulberry trees	A
and the fair fields of corn and of clover	C
That rippled and waved in the breeze	A
while the honey bees hummed in the blossoms	A
For there where the impetuous Rhone	E2
leaping down from the Switzerland mountains	A
And the silver lipped soft flowing Saone	E2
meeting kiss and commingle together	C
Down winding by vineyards and leas	A
by the orchards of fig trees and olives	A
To the island gemmed sapphire blue seas	A
of the glorious Greeks and the Romans	A
Aye there on the vine covered shore	C
'mid the mulberry trees and the olives	A
Dwelt his blue eyed and beautiful Flore	C
with her hair like a wheat field at harvest	C3
All rippled and tossed by the breeze	A
and her cheeks like the glow of the morning	Q3
Far away o'er the emerald seas	A
ere the sun lifts his brow from the billows	A
Or the red clover fields when the bees	A
singing sip the sweet cups of the blossoms	A
Wherever he wandered	C3
alone in the heart of the wild Huron forests	A
Or cruising the rivers unknown	E2
to the land of the Crees or Dakotas	A
His heart lingered still on the Rhone	E2
'mid the mulberry trees and the vineyards	A
Fast fettered and bound by the zone	E2
that girdled the robes of his darling	Q3
	-
Till the red Harvest Moon	E2
he remained in the vale of the swift Mississippi	G
The esteem of the warriors he gained	C3
and the love of the dark eyed Winona	E2
He joined in the sports and the chase	A
with the hunters he followed the bison	E2
And swift were his feet in the race	A
when the red elk they ran on the prairies	A
At the Game of the Plum stones he played	C3
and he won from the skillfulest players	A
A feast to Wa'tanka he made	C3
and he danced at the feast of Heyoka	Q3
With the flash and the roar of his gun	E2
he astonished the fearless Dakotas	A
They called it the Maza Wakan	E2
the mighty mysterious metal	R
'Tis a brother they said	C3
of the fire in the talons of dreadful Wakinyan	E2
When he flaps his huge wings in his ire	C
and shoots his red shafts at Unktehee	M
	-
The Itancan tall Wazi kute	C3
appointed a day for the races	A
From the red stake that stood by his tee	C3
on the southerly side of the Ha ha	M
To a stake at the Lake of the Loons	A
a league and return was the distance	A
On the crest of the hills red batons	A
marked the course for the feet of the runners	A
They gathered from near and afar	C
to the races and dancing and feasting	Q3
Five hundred tall warriors were there	C
from Kapoza and far off Keoza	A
Remnica a too furnished a share	C
of the legions that thronged to the races	A
And a bountiful feast was prepared	C3
by the diligent hands of the women	E2
And gaily the multitudes fared	C3
in the generous tees of Kathaga	Q3
The chief of the mystical clan	E2
appointed a feast to Unktehee	M
The mystic Wacipee Wakan b	C3
at the end of the day and the races	A
A band of sworn brothers are they	C3
and the secrets of each one are sacred	C3
And death to the lips that betray	C3
is the doom of the swarthy avengers	A
And the son of tall Wazi kute	C3
was the chief of the mystical order	C
	-
a Pronounced Ray mne chah the village of the Mountains situate where	C
Red Wing now stands	A
b Sacred Dance The Medicine dance See description infra	E2
	-
On an arm of an oak hangs the prize	A
for the swiftest and strongest of runners	A
A blanket as red as the skies	A
when the flames sweep the plains in October	C
And beside it a strong polished bow	R3
and a quiver of iron tipped arrows	A
Which Kapoza's tall chief will bestow	C3
on the fleet footed second that follows	A
A score of swift runners are there	C
from the several bands of the nation	E2
And now for the race they prepare	C
and among them fleet footed Tamdoka	Q3
With the oil of the buck and the bear	C
their sinewy limbs are anointed	C3
For fleet are the feet of the deer	C
and strong are the limbs of the bruin	E2
And long is the course and severe	C
for the swiftest and strongest of runners	A
	-
Hark the shouts and the braying of drums	A
and the Babel of tongues and confusion	E2
From his teepee the tall chieftain comes	A
and Duluth brings a prize for the runners	A
A keen hunting knife from the Seine	C3
horn handled and mounted with silver	C
The runners are ranged on the plain	E2
and the Chief waves a flag as a signal	R
And away like the gray wolves they fly	C3
like the wolves on the trail of the red deer	C
O'er the hills and the prairie they vie	C3
and strain their strong limbs to the utmost	C3
While high on the hills hangs a cloud	C3
of warriors and maidens and mothers	A
To behold the swift runners	A
and loud are the cheers and the shouts of the warriors	A
	-
Now swift from the lake they return	E2
o'er the emerald hills and the heather	C
Like grey hounds they pant and they yearn	E2
and the leader of all is Tamdoka	Q3
At his heels flies Hu pa hu a the fleet	C3
the pride of the band of Kaoza	A
A warrior with eagle winged feet	C3
but his prize is the bow and the quiver	C
Tamdoka first reaches the post	C3
and his are the knife and the blanket	C3
By the mighty acclaim of the host	C3
and award of the chief and the judges	A
Then proud was the tall warrior's stride	C3
and haughty his look and demeanor	C
He boasted aloud in his pride	C3
and he scoffed at the rest of the runners	A
Behold me for I am a man b	C3
my feet are as swift as the West wind	C3
With the coons and the beavers I ran	E2
but where is the elk or the cabri	C
Come where is the hunter will dare	C
match his feet with the feet of Tamdoka	Q3
Let him think of Tate c and beware	C
ere he stake his last robe on the trial	R
Oho Ho Ho heca d they jeered	C3
for they liked not the boast of the boaster	C
But to match him no warrior appeared	C3
for his feet wore the wings of the west wind	C3
	-
a The wings	A
b A favorite boast of the Dakota braves	A
c The wind	C3
d About equivalent to Oho Aha fudge	E3
	-
Then forth from the side of the chief	S3
stepped DuLuth and he looked on the boaster	C
The words of a warrior are brief	S3
I will run with the brave said the Frenchman	E2
But the feet of Tamdoka are tired	C3
abide till the cool of the sunset	C3
All the hunters and maidens admired	C3
for strong were the limbs of the stranger	C
Hiwo Ho a they shouted	C3
and loud rose the cheers of the multitude mingled	C3
And there in the midst of the crowd	C3
stood the glad eyed and blushing Winona	E2
	-
a Hurra there	C
	-
Now afar o'er the plains of the west	C3
walked the sun at the end of his journey	C3
And forth came the brave and the guest	C3
at the tap of the drum for the trial	R
Like a forest of larches the hordes	A
were gathered to witness the contest	C3
As loud is the drums were their words	A
and they roared like the roar of the Ha ha	M
For some for Tamdoka contend	C3
and some for the fair bearded stranger	C
And the betting runs high to the end	C3
with the skins of the bison and beaver	C
A wife of tall Wazi kute	C3
the mother of boastful Tamdoka	Q3
Brought her handsomest robe from the tee	C3
with a vaunting and loud proclamation	E2
She would stake her last robe on her son who	E2
she boasted was fleet as the Cabri	C
And the tall tawny chieftain looked on	E2
approving the boast of the mother	C
Then fleet as the feet of a fawn to her lodge	T3
ran the dark eyed Winona	E2
She brought and she staked on the lawn	E2
by the side of the robe of the boaster	C
The lily red mantle Duluth with his own hands	A
had laid on her shoulders	A
Tamdoka is swift but forsooth	C3
the tongue of his mother is swifter	C
She said and her face was aflame	Y
with the red of the rose and the lily	C3
And loud was the roar of acclaim	Y
but dark was the face of Tamdoka	Q3
	-
They strip for the race and prepare	C
DuLuth in his breeches and leggins	A
And the brown curling locks of his hair	C
downward droop to his bare brawny shoulders	A
And his face wears a smile debonair	C
as he tightens his red sash around him	Y
But stripped to the moccasins bare	C
save the belt and the breech clout of buckskin	E2
Stands the haughty Tamdoka aware	C
that the eyes of the warriors admire him	Y
For his arms are the arms of a bear	C
and his legs are the legs of a panther	C
	-
The drum beats the chief waves the flag	Q3
and away on the course speed the runners	A
And away leads the brave like a stag	Q3
like a hound on his track flies the Frenchman	E2
And away haste the hunters once more	C
to the hills for a view to the lake side	C3
And the dark swarming hill tops	A
they roar with the storm of loud voices commingled	C3
Far away o'er the prairie they fly	C3
and still in the lead is Tamdoka	Q3
But the feet of his rival are nigh	C3
and slowly he gains on the hunter	C
Now they turn on the post at the lake	Q3
now they run full abreast on the home stretch	U3
Side by side they contend for the stake	Q3
for a long mile or more on the prairie	C3
They strain like a stag and a hound	C3
when the swift river gleams through the thicket	C3
And the horns of the rulers resound	C3
winding shrill through the depths of the forest	C3
But behold at full length on the ground	C3
falls the fleet footed Frenchman abruptly	C3
And away with a whoop and a bound	C3
springs the eager exulting Tamdoka	Q3
Long and loud on the hills	A
is the shout of his swarthy admirers and backers	A
But the race is not won till it's out	C3
said DuLuth to himself as he gathered	C3
With a frown on his face	A
for the foot of the wily Tamdoka had tripped him	Y
Far ahead ran the brave on the route	C3
and turning he boasted exultant	C3
Like spurs to the steed to DuLuth	C3
were the jeers and the taunts of the boaster	C3
Indignant was he and red wroth	C3
at the trick of the runner dishonest	C3
And away like a whirlwind he speeds	A
like a hurricane mad from the mountains	A
He gains on Tamdoka he leads	A
and behold with the spring of a panther	C3
He leaps to the goal and succeeds	A
'mid the roar of the mad acclamation	E2
	-
Then glad as the robin in May	C3
was the voice of Winona exulting	Q3
And the crest fallen brave turned away	C3
and lonely he walked by the river	C3
He glowered as he went	C3
and the fire of revenge in his bosom was kindled	C3
But he strove to dissemble his ire	C3
and he whistled alone by the Ha ha	M

Hanford Lennox Gordon

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