🧚 Opening, part 16 · page 2

Ere long the news spread, Soon all the squirrels Said: “_Sexkâtûwuk Kʾputwusin_,” “Let us take council.”77 Red squirrels, gray squirrels, Striped squirrels, flying ones, Came running together, Then they cried out: “Lappilatwan Must leave his tree, And if it may be, Be put to death!”78

All in a band They went to the birch-tree, Then they observed that In one way only Could they approach Lappilatwan.79 Straight up the trunk Not many together.80

The news spread afar, Soon there came flying The wasps and the hornets, The bees and the black flies, The angry mosquitoes: Even the midges, The little Chessúyek Came to the rescue Of Lappilatwan.81 The chief of the squirrels Gave out the order: “Let the battle begin!”82 The squirrels rushed onward They rushed to the birch-tree: Yet only a few At once together Could climb up the trunk: Musesaaqua, the horse-fly, Was brave in that battle.83 Mosquitoes and midges Like gallant warriors Rushed on the squirrels, With their sharp spears.84 Ere the first squirrel Was half-way up the birch-tree, He and his followers Fell to the ground Wounded and dying.85

Lappilatwan High up on the birch-tree Saw the battle rage, But was ever silent, Silent till sunset; Then his loud song Rang through the forest: “_Lappilatwan Wechkûtonébit_.”86 “Fair tree-fungus Sits with mouth open.”87

Soon as they heard it All of the warriors, Squirrels and insects Valiant mosquitoes, Humble hornets, Bold bumble-bees, Wild whizzing wasps, Gallant merry midges Went to their wigwams.88 Lappilatwan Had faith in his warriors: Truly he trusted That they could defend him.89

When in the morning They heard the signal, The song of awaking, Ring from the birch-tree, The mighty armies Again assembled; The chiefs held council; Thus spoke Sexkâtû While all were silent:90

“Listen, oh squirrels!91 Last night in dreaming This was revealed to me: If in the battle One of your warriors Can touch for an instant Lappilatwan Ever so lightly, Before he sings us The summons to sleep, Then we shall conquer; Failing to touch him Ere we hear ringing ‘_Lappilatwan Wappilatwan_’ We are defeated.92 Now you have heard me, On to the birch-tree!”93

The angry flies Sharpen their spears; Dip them in poison; Loud was their buzz!94

As they went to battle, Terrible slaughter Followed their onrush; Desperate squirrels Heedless of death Clung to the birch-tree Wingèd warriors By many thousands Swarmed on the foe; Many a horse-fly Beheld no more His wife and children; Many a hornet Sat no more By the fire of his wigwam; The dying bumble-bee Chanted his death song.95

Dire was the slaughter, Full thrice greater Than on the first day; Still they rushed onward, Fiercer for battle, Giving no heed That the day was ending; Never observing The sun down-sinking, When over the forest Rang loud the summons: “_Lappilatwan Wappilatwan_.”96

All was over.97 High on the birch-tree Untouched by a foeman-- Sat the watchman-- The flies were victorious!98

This poem is like Homer’s Batrachomyomachia, the battle of the frogs and mice, as sung by some Icelandic bard.99 The humor is as Greek as the form is Norse.100 L.101

FOOTNOTES:102

[62] Long ago, Lappilatwan, always good-natured, was cousin of all the birds.103 These lines indicate the measure to which the whole was sung; _i.e._, they are a “staff-rhyme.”104

II105

THE STORY OF NIPON THE SUMMER106

[_Passamaquoddy_]107

_Piʿche weligit ēpit Liwiha Nipon Metchimiû wikos Kwihio kizosek.108 _[63]109

In the far old time Lived near the sun A beautiful woman, Nipon her name.110 Green were her garments All of fresh leaves.111 And with green leaves And beautiful flowers She covered her wigwam.112

She had a grandmother, Kʾmēwun, the rain, Who dwelt far away.113 But when she came To visit her grandchild One thing she ever Said ere she left her: “One thing I bid thee With hardest warning, To one thing I bind thee With a strong will: Look that thou never Seek in thy wandering The Laʿtogwesnuk, The land of the North: For there dwells Pûn, Pûn, the winter; A deadly foe Thou wilt surely find him.114 Should thy feet fall In the Laʿtogwesnuk Thy beauty will leave thee, Thy green dress fade, Hair turning gray Thy strength become weakness.”115

Little heed And scant attention Gave Nipon To Kʾmēwun, the rain.116 One fair morning She sat by her wigwam In the bright sunshine, And looking afar At the Laʿtogwesnuk All that she saw Seemed strangely lovely As if enchanted.117 No human being Was in the Northland, But o’er it all Was beautiful sunshine; There she beheld At a long distance A wonderful land: Broad shining lakes, High blue mountains, Bright rolling rivers All strange and sweet.118 Something came over her, She knew not what; A dream or a voice; There was no help, She must rise and go.119 Must go to the land Of Laʿtogwesnuk Unto the Northland.120

Up rose Nipon Unto the North Wending her way, When she heard a voice, The voice of the Rain (Though she could not see her), Kʾmēwun, a-wailing: “Bide, my daughter!121 If thou goest Unto the Northland Pûn the winter Will surely kill thee!”122 She heard nothing Of all the warning, She could not stay For a spell was on her; Ever onward She went to the North.123

For many days, For many moons, Still the sun shone, Still she saw The beautiful country Of mountains and rivers, Until one day Nipon noted That as she followed, The land went onward, And as she travelled, It travelled before her.124

All around her Was nothing but sunshine.125 Stopping a little To think of the wonder, She heard a whisper, The voice of the Rain: “Stay, my daughter!”126 It made her wilful, She still went onward; On to the North.127

Still the far country Went on before her, And something she never Had known came o’er her-- She felt the cold!128 An unseen power Now drove her onward; Will had departed, Still the mountains Went on before her; The green leaves Of her beautiful garment Grew yellow and faded, And were blown away By the grim wind; Her long hair Turned gray and white; The sun grew dim And then shone no more; She was very weak; The beautiful mountains Were heaps of snow; The beautiful rivers And lakes were of ice-- All in the North.129

Kʾmēwun, the Rain, Was sad in her soul.130 She looked afar No smoke was rising From Nipon’s wigwam: “She has not returned,” Said the Rain-mother, So in her fear She went to the wigwam.131

All was silent, The boughs and the flowers Which covered the wigwam Were yellow and faded: “My child!--my child!132 Thou art caught at last By the icy Pûn, By the wicked winter!133 Afar in the North.”134

Straight she called for Her bravest warriors.135 The ever-unseen.136 These were their names: Saunésen the south wind, Wchîpi the east wind, With Sĕnusóktun The warming breeze.137 Quickly she cried: “Hasten away To the Laʿtogwésnuk, Fight like heroes, Use all your power To rescue Nĭpon From Pûn, the winter, Fly to the North!”138

The wind warriors, The unseen by man, Flew like lightning On their long journey.139 As they entered The Laʿtogwesnuk Pûn the winter Felt ill at ease; He called his chieftains: Great Laʿtogwĕsin The terrible north wind, And the wild north-wester, The chill north-east wind, With all the frosts Sleet-spirits, snow-spirits, And every child Of the killing cold Who dwell in the North.140