Ojibway Poems

I.

Who, maiden, makes this river flow?
The Spirit-he makes its ripples glow-
But I have a charm that can make thee, dear,
Steal o'er the wave to thy lover here.

II.

Who, maiden, makes this river flow?
The Spirit-he makes its ripples glow-
Yet every blush that my love would hide,
Is mirror'd for me in the tell-tale tide.

III.

And though thou shouldst sleep on the farthest isle,
Round which these dimpling waters smile-
Yet I have a charm that can make thee, dear,
Steal over the wave to thy lover here.

The Loon Upon the Lake (Ojibwa)

I looked across the water,

I bent o'er it and listened,
I thought it was my lover,

My true lover's paddle glistened.
Joyous thus his light canoe would the silver ripples wake.-

But no!-it is the loon alone-

The loon upon the lake.
Ah me! it is the loon alone-

The loon upon the lake.

I see the fallen maple

Where he stood, his red scarf waving,
Though waters nearly bury

Boughs they then were newly laving.
I hear his last farewell, as it echoed from the brake.-

But no, it is the loon alone-

The loon upon the lake,
Ah me! it is the loon alone-

The loon upon the lake.

Dream Song (Ojibwa)

It is I who travel in the winds,
It is I who whisper in the breeze,

I shake the trees,

I shake the earth,
I trouble the waters on every land.

Prophetic Powers (Ojibwa)

1.

At the place of light-
At the end of the sky-
I,the Great Spirit,
Come and hang
Bright sign.

2.

Lo! with the sound of my voice,
The prophet's voice,
I make my sacred lodge to shake-
By unseen hands my lodge to shake,
My sacred lodge.

3.

Haih! the white bird of omen,
He flies around the clouds and skies-
He sees,-unuttered sight!
Around the clouds and skies-
By his bright eyes I see-I see-I know.

Chants to the Deity (Ojibwa)

1.

I am the living body of the Great Spirit above,
The Great Spirit, the Ever-living Spirit above,
The living body of the Great Spirit
Whom all must heed.
Heh! heh! heh! heh!

2.

I am the Great Spirit of the sky,
The overshadowing power.
I illumine earth,
I illumine heaven.
Way, ho! ho! ho! ho!

3.

Ah say!
what Spirit, or Body, is this Body?
That fills the world around,
Speak man!
Ah say!
What Spirit, or Body, is this Body?
Way, ho! ho! ho! ho!

Hawk Chant of the Saginaws (Ojibwa)

The hawks turn their heads nimbly round;
They turn to look back on their flight.
The spirits of sun-place have whispered them words,
They fly with their messages swift,
They look as they fearfully go,
They look to the farthermost end of the world,
Their eyes glancing bright, and their beaks boding harm.