Passamaquoddy

Nit neke epit pʾiche nitwechi moskesits Poskaniknikok mechinechik etli-poskʿnot.

There was a woman, long, long ago, She came out of a pit In which dead people were buried; She made her home in a tree; She was dressed in leaves; All long, long ago. When she walked among the dry leaves, Her feet were so covered That they could not be seen; She walked in the woods Singing all the time: “I want company: I am lonesome!” All long, long ago!

From afar o’er the lakes and mountains A wild man heard her cry; He came to her, she saw him, Saw him and was afraid; She tried to flee away, For he was clothed with the rainbow, Color and light were his garments. She ran and he pursued her, Pursued her rapidly, Unto the foot of a mountain. He spoke in a strange language, She could not understand him. He would make her tell where she dwelt. They married and had two children One of them was a boy, A boy who was blind from his birth. But he frightened his mother by his sight; He could tell her what was coming: What was coming from afar, What was near he could not see. He could see the bear and moose, Far away beyond the mountains; He could see through everything.

The father was a great being, He was a mighty hunter; His wife had magic gifts. A boy was born to them Alas, the boy was blind! In time his sight returned, He said that he could see. The mother did not believe it, She thought it was magic sight. So one day she bade her husband Put on him certain things Which no one could behold Who saw them not with eyes As every one could see them. And then she asked the boy “What is it that your father Uses to pull his sled?” Promptly the child replied “The rainbow.” Then she said: “What has he for a bow-string?” To which his answer was “It is Ketaksuwauʿt That is the Spirits’ Road” (Meaning the Milky Way). Yet once more she inquired: “What has he on his sled?” “A beaver,” he replied; She knew that he could see.