Nagi Tanka

The following is a tribute to all Native Americans. Please check the footnotes for unfamiliar words. A lonely man riding a tashunke Toward the anapo Where the yellow-gowned prince Rises majestically With an army of golden spears Aimed at desert’s sandy heart The ozuye ohitika cries out: He-ay-hee-ee He-ay-hee-ee And dances the can wakan Esnella Little naughty miracles Come out of tepees Cinks-cunks To welcome me, Eyes twinkling With hope, with fear… Le mita sunkaku, le mita cola, le mita tahunsa Oo-oohey Happo happo And we rush with our mila hansaka To hunt the tatanka Under blue sky Where cetan flies Ocheti of us Men with pahaska Adorned with wanbli’s niyaha Ride like wakina on burning sands It’s noon And the lunchtime Our tepees are filled with le mita colapi Dancing flames Siyotanka’s melody Joy and laughter All is skuyela Can this last ohinyan? Owanka wakan is shaking Nituwe he? Traces of worry On my tunkasila and unci’s faces The wasichu Mahpuya shrouds The sky -Hohahe -Miyelo ca kola! -Should I believe that? -My friends will be here anytime To be your guests! Mind is drowned in doubt’s lagoon Yellow prince is wounded His bleeding chest Disappears into horizon Haho! Haho! The white are coming A black wickmunke O wakan tanka I ask for peace I beg for love Is that much to have? Tepees are glowing? Or greedy flames Have found their victims? This is wicoti mitawa Wahi, wahi He-ay hee-ee He-ay-hee-ee Nagi tanka Raise my spirit… O cherished land Oh burnt tepees Smokes, ashes, cries Blind the eyes, deafen ears Hecheto aloe… --- Footnotes: Nagi Tanka: Great Spirit Tashunke : Horse Anapo: The Dawn Ozuye: Warrior Ohitika: Brave He-ay-hee-ee: A call to the Great Spirit Can Wakan: Sun dance Esnella: A loner Tepees: Native American Tents Cinks: My son Cunks: My daughter Le mita sunkaku: My younger brother Le mita cola: My friend Le mita tahunsa: My cousin Oo-oohey: It is time Happo: Let’s go Mila hansaka: Long knives Tatanka: Buffalo bull Cetan: Hawk Ocheti: Seven Pahaska: Long hair Wanbli: Eagle Niyaha: Feather Wakina: Thunder Le mita colapi: My friends Siyotanka: A kind of flute made of cedar wood Skuyela: sweet Ohinyan: forever Owanka wakan: Sacred Altar Nituwe he? : Who are you? Tunkasila: Grandfather Unci: Grandmother Wasichu: White man Mahpuya: Cloud Hohahe: Welcome Miyelo ca kola: I am friend Haho: Look at this Wickmunke: Trap Wakan tanka: God Wicoti mitawa: My village Wahi: I am coming Hecheto aloe: It is finished