The Fire Bird

"This is my daughter, a Princess of seven tribes, She who can run with the foot of the hare, Who can dance as the gold birch leaves, When spring comes stealing from the Southland; Who can guide the swift canoes surely And ride the wild ponies on the chase, Whose fingers are skilful in basket weaving, In beading, and braiding, and polishing ornaments. She comes with me to make the friendship Of a people of her mother's blood; And her name is a name held sacred Among all the tribes at peace with us. Like music there fell from his smooth tongue A name well known to council wise Canawacs, 'Couey-ouey'--a breath of sweetness-- He spoke it like the easy tongue of a lazy brook Softly singing among the small stones of its bed.

Then every Canawac remembered the dark days When the Great Spirit became justly angered, And in the height of his deep wrath Against the treachery of all tribes