Hymn to the Sun (Zuñi)
I
Early in the morning,
We waken, we waken.
When mother Sun-god rises,
We welcome her with joy.
She greets us with a radiant face,
She meets us with a warm embrace,
So sweetly, so sweetly.
Merrily we sing and dance;
In happy spirit we advance;
Merrily we sing and dance;
In happy spirit we advance.
We are children of the sun,
Arm in arm together run,
Round a ring we steady move:
Our hearts will faithful prove,
As the sun comes near to us,
Near to us, near to us.
Listen! just listen!
II
What a wondrous shower of sounds,
Countless beats in rapid rounds,
Ever changing ever new,
Constant strains of high and low.
They are messengers of love,
Spirit voices from above,
Bringing light and life and joy
Telling us of bliss on high,
Bliss on high! Bliss on high!
Listen! just listen!
III
Whence come all these distant sounds?
Echoes, where the light abounds:
Crystal streams in murmurs faint,
Bursting forth without restraint.
They are golden grains of thought,
Silent whispers faintly caught,
Filling us with joy content,
Pathways of our souls’ ascent,
Souls’ ascent, souls’ ascent.
Listen! just listen!
IV
Glory to the sunlight rays,
Glory to the Sun-god’s ways,
Sunlight rays, Sun-god’s ways.
They command us: to endure,
To be silent, chaste and pure,
To be faithful, true and brave,
To the laws our fathers gave.
O harken to the Sun-god’s voice
Beckoning your soul to rise:
In radiant light, the source of song,
The origin of thought has sprung:
As light and song in one unite,
Let us forever seek the light,
We seek the light, we seek the light.
Listen! just listen!