[033] A Song of Hospitality

A Song of Hospitality

A Song of Hospitality [J]

_Sioux_

    I am mashing the berries,
    I am mashing the berries,
    They say travelers are coming on the march,
    They say travelers are coming on the march,
    I stir [the berries] around, I stir them around,
    I take them up with a spoon of buffalo horn,
    I take them up with a spoon of buffalo horn,
    And I carry them, I carry them [to the strangers],
    And I carry them, I carry them [to the strangers].

"Word comes that travelers are approaching ... on the march with their children, dogs, and household property. She stirs them around with a spoon of buffalo horn and goes to offer them to the strangers. The translation is an exact paraphrase of the rhythmic repetition of the original."

FOOTNOTE:
[J] James Mooney.