Wax Poetica

Wax Poetica

This section will feature poetry from Evan Pritchard and others. Archives will be found at http://waxpoetica.blogspot.com. (Currently at http://waxpoetickle.blogspot.com )

EP

Here is one excerpt from wax poetica.

Take The Red Road (In English and Micmac)
Coyright c 1999 Evan Pritchard

Take the Red Road
Mee-eneemoo Maygwayg Outee
Walk towards the sun for a day
Eleeun Nisgam nauqte negwew
Your shadow will know the way
Otchitcha-hau-mitch(oo) gaydoo aglamz.
Donn geeoh nemeedoo daboo outee
When you come to an intersection
Ach ga’xamee mooshpa lagoowax’n uchtup
And standing there you have to make up your mind
Mee-en-eemoo Maygwayg Outee.
Take the Red Road.
Waneeshee, ucktcheegehloog djoosin
It’s more beautiful in that direction
Ach witchoowoo donn taxadung.
And shorter in the long run.
El-loo-gaik weegooum ixtuq
Keep walking until you come to a dwelling
Ixtooq nemeedoo djeenum geeoh gaydoosup
There you will meet someone you used to know
GesalgkedtEmbrace himAx wixomut micmac,
Meegamooatch.
And call him countryman, kin-friend.
Sooner or later, the blessings of night will fall
Ulabadoo depkik nitchya al geetpessan
Like the rain.
Sakseegwadoo buxtao gamalamun
But let your fire burn brightlyIn your little shell.
Meegus-djeedj.
Maygwayg buxtao whasowahdoo ukpoogeek-el
Let its red glow light your eyes
Bemee-en mee-eneemoo nehbunn
Keep walking until you find sleep
Geh-gobeet ma’amaygo
Then lay upon the earth
Geesalk Noogamee
Embrace the Great Mother.
Donn mundjai
When you awaken
Mee-en-ee-moo geeoh
You’ll find yourself
Uxtaahnuq
On a beach
Boxtchin waben-eeahWelee-etseepoq
Just before the dawnOf a beautiful morning.
Geeoh aimoo wedjibennah neegeh.
You are in the eastern direction now
Munjai ax nemeedoo wedjibek
Rise up and look to the east
Geezeegool Nisgam
To the Grandfather Sun
Munjai gwessgweedjai abaxtuq
Rising over the ocean.
Eleeun taxadung oo’sitgamoo
Walk to the end of the earth
Ga’amee botchin abaxtuq
And stand at the edge of the ocean
Tchai-naiWait quietlyWuntaktek uk-kamalamun
With peace in your heartAx ahlsootumy Neesgam
And pray.Take your offeringFrom its pot of clay
Eganee sasee-eh-whynTcha wo’qtch-tyou
Something in exchange for the light.
Na’qo’eh sasee-eh why whasowuck.
Slowly, the sun will show his face to you
Nisgam elxeedamool seesk gee-el
And unfold for you a stream of red
Ax eganugee-el seepoodjeedj maygwayg
Whaso-buxtau weskitdek
Firelight sparkling along the crest of waves
Al ahmasek outee maygwayg
Like a long beautiful red road
WaygadexTo eternity.
When it washes your shoes
Donn ilwax’n malseen makassink
Take that red road to the center of the sun
Mee-enee-moo maygwayg outee gamalamun Nisgam.
You will not fallMuxwa nitchya
Your feet will fly to heaven!
Mukatk buskoosod Whasowuck!Geenoo el-eeun
Nisgam nauqtegwew
We all will travel towards the Creator one day
Otchitchahaumitch(oo) gaydax’n aglamz
Our spirits will understand the way
The way of truth and harmony
The Red Road!
Maygwaig outee!Bemee’en wedji-bennah
Walk towards the place where the sun rises
Gamalamun Nisgam
To the heart of the Creator
Ax taxadung oo’sitgamooo.
And there at the edge of the world.
We’ll speak as one with the Creator!
Geenoo ahlsootumy Geezeegool Nisgam!
Eganuwax’n sasee-ehwhyn
Laying down our offering
Tcha woq’tchkPots of clay
Sasee-eh-why whasowuck
In exchange for Heaven.
Geenoo aim outee ixtuq
We then will be the road itself
Ax muxwa mooshpa bemee’en abaxtuk
And we’ll no longer need to walk so far
Aim ixtooqTo get there.
Ees neegehBut for now
Mee-enee-moo Maygwayg outee!
Take the Red Road!