Wild Notes of the Pibbigwun
Contents.
The Pibbigwun 307
The Chippewa Girl 307
Doubt308
Fairy Whisperings 309
Song of the Opechee 310
Chant to the Fire-fly, the Watasee 311
Fairy Chief’s Carol 312
Song of a Captive Creek Girl 312
Female Song 313
Male Song 313
Love of the Forest 314
Light of Christianity in the Wigwam 315
The Nocturnal Grave Lights 316
Manito317
Niagara, an Allegory 318
Chileeli, a Spirit’s Whisperings319
Stanzas on the State of the Iroquois 322
The Loon’s Foot—a Song 324
Tulco, Prince of Notto 325
On Presenting a Wild Rose plucked on the Sources of the Mississippi 326
The Red Man 327
The Skeleton wrapped in Gold 330
Waub Ojeeg’s Death Whisperings 332
To the Miscodeed333
The Star Family 335
Song of the Wolf-Brother 339
Abbinochi341
To Pauguk 342
Notes
THE PIBBIGWUN.107
I ope my voice, not with the organ’s tone,
Deep, solemn and majestic; not with sounds
Of trump or drum, that cheer armed squadrons on,
In coats of steel, o’er lines of bloody grounds,
Nor is my tone, the tone of rushing storms,
That sweep in mad career through forests tall,
Up-tearing gnarled oaks, with sounds of hellish forms,
That bode destruction black, and death to all.
Nor is it yet the screaming warrior, loud,
With hand upraised to mouth, hyena-strong,
That tells of midnight onrush, hell-endowed,
And bleeding scalp of aged, mild and young.
Ah no! it is a note that’s only blown,
Where kindness fills the heart, and every thrill
Is peace and love, while music’s softer tone
Steals on the evening air, its simple aims to fill,
Waking the female ear to carols of the Pibbigwun.