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ZUNI RITUAL POETRY 



[ETH. ANN. 



Our daylight mothers, 



Our daylight children, 



The seeds which we brought tied about 

 our waists 



We leave here now. 



This is well; 



That going but a little ways from their 

 house 



Our fathers may meet tlicir children ;«" 



That going about, as they say, 



With your water-filled breath 



(You may meet) antelope. 



Mountain goats. 



Does, 



Bucks, 



Jack rabbits, 



Cottontails, 



Wood rats. 



Small game — even little bugs; 



So that thus going out from your 

 houses. 



With the flesh of these 



You may satisfy your hunger. 



This is well; 



In order that my daylight fathers' rain- 

 filled rooms. 



May be filled with all kinds of clothing, 



That their house may have a heart,"" 



That even in his doorway 



The shelled corn may be spilled before 

 his door, 



Tliat beans may be spilled before liis 

 door. 



That wheat may be spilled outside the 

 door, 



(That the house may be full of) little 

 boys, 



And little girls, 



And men and women grown to matu- 

 rity. 



That in his house 



Children may jostle one another in the 

 doorway. 



In order that it may be thus. 



With two plume wands joined together, 



I have consecrated the center of his roof. 



Praj'iiig for whatever you wished. 



Through the winter. 



Through the summer. 



Throughout the cycle of the months, 



I have prayed for light for you. 



Now this day, 



I have fulfilled their thoughts. 



Perpetuating the rite of our father, 



Sayataea, bow priest. 



And giving him human form " 



I have passed you on your roads. 



My divine father's life-giving '- breath, 



His breath of old age. 



His breath of waters. 



His breath of seeds. 



His breath of riches. 



His breath of fecundity,'' 



His breath of power. 



His breath of strong spirit. 



His breath of all good fortune whatso- 

 ever. 



Asking for his breath, 



And into my warm body 



Drawing his breath, 



I add to your breath now. 



Let no one despise the breath of his 

 fathers. 



But into your bodies. 



Draw their breath. 



Tliat yonder to where the road of our 

 sun father comes out, 



Your roads may reach; 



That clasping hands. 



Holding one another fast. 



You ma.v finish your roads. 



To this end, I add to your breath now. 



Verily, so long as we enjoy the light of 

 day 



May we greet one another with love; '* 



Verily, so long as we enjoy the light of 

 day 



May we wish one another well. 



Verily may we pray for one another. 



To this end, my fathers, 



My mothers, 



My children: 



89 Game animals. 



^f An empty house "has no heart." The heart of the hou,se is anything which has been used by human 

 beings. 



^1 The syntax of this passage is obscure. The reference is to the complete identification of the god with 

 the impersonator. 



" O'naya'naka, literally, road finishing. 



'^ I'e'apEunan'e, a word difficult to render into English. It includes children, domesticated animals, 

 and game. 



" I'yanilfinawa, literally, "call one another by terms of relationship." The impersonator remains a 

 •'child" of the house he has dedicated and calls the host and hostess father and mother. 



