Here In This Meadow

Here In This Meadow
© Surazeus
2025 02 22

Whistling as she glides in the forest meadow, 
Cholena gathers ripe berries and herbs, 
wraps fish in clay to bake it in hot ashes, 
then sings while she feeds her cute baby boy, 
"Katonah, who dreams with eyes of my father, 
you are my mountain where birds sing in joy." 

Racing along the rocky river shore, 
leaping like the wolf he saw in the woods, 
Katonah chases deer with spotted hide, 
shooting arrow that pierces its wild heart, 
then sings as he skins it, and smokes its meat, 
"I honor your spirit that feeds my soul." 

Gathering shells of quahog clams and whelks 
that glisten on the beach of sparkling sand, 
and animal bones that gleam in grass tufts, 
Katonah grinds shells into wampum beads, 
sews them onto leather belt and long skirt, 
then strings shells and bones on necklace of love. 

Approaching Odina as she grinds corn 
and fries flat cakes on large round cooking stone, 
Katonah kneels and presents in both hands 
necklace he made with shells, bones, and wolf teeth, 
so she beams with joy and accepts his gift, 
then feeds him corn cakes and coal-roasted cod. 

Strolling together in meadow of flowers, 
Katonah and Odina, holding hands, 
sit on the rock beside the sparkling river 
and share with each other their childhood tales, 
then kiss and make love by the maple tree 
as the silver moon luminates their souls. 

Standing by the bright river in dawn light, 
Katonah raises his hand to the trees, 
"Here in this meadow beside our Moon River 
I will build large home of leather on poles 
to shelter you and our children from harm, 
and bring you fish and corn to feast and sing." 

Holding bow and arrow with firm resolve, 
Katonah shows his young son Mahigan, 
whose eyes gleam fierce as the wild mountain wolf, 
how to shoot the arrow with confidence, 
and grins when his clever boy pulls bow taut 
and fires arrow straight with accurate speed. 

Sitting around the fire that shimmers gold, 
that family of Odina, Mother Mountain, 
listen as Cholena sings of creation, 
"Kishlemakong dreams the world, then creates 
first man and woman from the maple tree, 
and sets it on back of Tulpe the turtle."