English poem
V
by Hartley Burr Alexander (1873–1939)
The Tribes of the Red Men rejoice in their fields, thinking with thankfulness of the Cloud Spirits which have caused the Goodness of Life to descend, and of the Rainbow Woman who hath woven the colors of her body into the several-colored maize, and of the Corn Maidens, with the pollen-hued butterflies at their lips.
Behold, the Tribes, where they rejoice in the bounties of the harvest! Men and women are there, and youths, laughter-loving; Mothers are there, and children merry of limb; The friendly animals are there, the sport-eager dog, the burro, burden-bearing.
Many songs are sung in the midst of the maize-fields; Many colors gleam where the people move to and fro, Where they gather the sheathéd ears, the ears hard-ripened, Where they gather the crispéd maize, gleaning the several colors.
Many the songs that are sung, and many the altars made precious With gift of well-drilled bead, with polished talisman, With fields of waving feathers bearing the plume-winged prayers, Where from the terraced Bowl the sacred meal is scattered....
While the harvesters bethink them, Singing, where the maize they gather, Of the dancing Cloud-born Women, Of the Maidens of the Mist-Foam, Of the Daughters of the Sunbeams, Of the shining Rainbow-Mother In her stripes of many colors, Like the corn of many colors....
The Song of the Rainbow Woman, whose body archeth the Fields of Life, is on the lips of the Harvesters.
“The Woman who dwells in the Place of Mists, The Woman who appears in dissolvent skies, Her body is very slender and luminous, Her hands touch the extremity of the Earth, Her feet touch softly upon the Earth!
“Adorned is her body with many and beautiful colors, With the green of tender grass it is adorned, With the blue of feathery lupine it is adorned, With the red of glowing cactus, With the yellow of bright pollen....
“Daughter Corn is likewise adorned with colors, Blue corn there is and red corn, Yellow corn there is and white corn: All corn grows upon the bladed green, Touched by the luminous sunlight, watered by crystal dews....
“The Woman who dwells in the Place of Mists, Arching the caverns of the clouds, Arching the Earth with Beauty! Bride she is of the luminous Sun,---- Their offspring is corn of all colors!”