BCNZEL) RELIGIOUS LIFE 485 



That yonder in all our water-filled fields 



The source of our flesh, 



All the different kinds of corn 



May stand up aU about, 



That, nourishing themselves with fresh water, 



Clasping their cliildren in their arms, 



They may rear their young. 



So that we may bring them into our houses. 



Thinking of them toward whom our thoughts bend — 



Desiring this, 



I send you forth with prayers. 



Yonder on all sides coming to the forests, 



And to some fortunate one 



Offering prayer meal, 



Crushed shell, 



Corn pollen, 



We broke off the straight young shoots. 



From where they had stood quietly 



Holding their long life; 



Holding their old age. 



Holding their waters, 



We made them come forth, 



We brought them hither. 



This many days 



Yonder in our houses 



With us, their children. 



They stayed. 



And now this day. 



With our warm human hands 



We took hold of them. 



With eagle's wing, 



And with the striped cloud wings of all the birds of summer. 



With these four times wrapping our plume wands 



(We make them into living beings) 



With our mother, cotton woman. 



Even a roughly spun cotton thread, 



A soiled cotton thread. 



With this four times encircling them 



And tying it about their bodies 



And with a water bringing hair feather, 



We made our plume wands into living beings. 



With the flesh of our mother, 



Clay woman, 



Four times clothing our plume wands with flesh, 



We made them into living beings. 



Holding them fast. 



We made them our representatives in prayer. 



From wherever my children have built their shelters. 



May their roads come in safety. 



May the forests 



And the brush 



Stretch out their water-filled arms 



