656 



ZUNI RITUAL POETRY 



[eTH. ANN. 47 



a-'ho' le'wanan a-'tekan'a 



Prayer of a Priest During His Summer Ketreat 



This many are the days, 



Since those who are our fathers, 



Tliose who are our mothers, 



The ones who first had being 

 5 Eii'etoew- 



Tcu'eto-we 



Had kept for them their days. 



This many days, 



Anxiously waiting, 

 10 We passed our days. 



When all these days were past. 



Now we have come to the ap- 

 pointed time. 



Our fathers. 



Our mothers, 

 15 In your fourth inner room 



You stay quietly. 



This day we have reached the aj)- 

 pointed time. 



Our fathers, 

 20 Our ancestors. 



Yonder, you who were priests 

 when you were alive. 



We have reached your appointed 

 time.'' 



This day 

 25 Your day has been made. 



The one who is my father, 



The one who is my mother. 



Four times I shall hold you fast. 



le'si le'wanan-e 

 hon a''tatc i'lapona 

 hon a''tsit i'lapona 

 tci-'mi Eiinapkowa 

 5 Ea-e'to-we 

 tcu-e'to'we 



a'' wan te'wana yo""apa 

 le'si te'wanan'e 

 a'nfisume'na 

 10 hon le'wanan a''tealfa. 



hon ^e'wanan a-'teakii te'kwi 

 kes le'na hai'tokwin te"tcilfa 



ho"na'wan a''tatcu 



ho"na'wan a''tsita 

 15 yam a''witen te'li'tona 



ton ti'nan la'Eika 



lu'kii yii'ton'e 



hai'tokwin te"tcilfa 



ho"na'wan a''tatcu 

 20 ho"na-wan a*'}aci'na-we 



la'lhok" ton a"'ciwan'i 



^a'Eii a-'ho' a''teakowa 



to'na'wan hai'tokwin te"tcika. 



lu'kii y.a'tone 

 25 to"na'wan te'wanan yo"'jfa 

 yam tatc-i'li te"ona 

 yam tsit-i'li te"ona 

 a''witela'ma 

 ya'tena-tsu'meEiin-a. 



1^ In the songs used dm-ing the retreat all the deceased members of the priesthood as far hack as tradition 

 goes are invoked by name — a notable exception to the taboo on the use of the names of the dead. Tho 

 dead priests who abide with the rain makers are believed to be present in spirit. The sense of continuity 

 is stronger in the priestly rituals than in other Zuni rites. 



