a language exercise.  i wrote the poem in lakota first, then translated it.

 

tasiyagnunpa kin mia yelo
hanhepi kin ewaglega

hancokan mia yelo
hanhepiwi ihate na waci kin kichi

ica mi na cincala mia yelo
tuwe wasteaka isto inari ye

magazu mia yelo
mni luta mia yelo
mastincapute to hu sbu

winohinca ota mia yelo
cante kokala awanyaka wo ot uyacin
maku mayozan, ista mayozan
cantograkapi nichi awatonwan

ninape makipazo ye
i ha canl wakan maku miye ye
ceye sni yo!
kokepe sni yo!

tasiyagnunpa kin mia yelo
miye etan kinyan ilale oyakihi sni ye!
iyuhe uncin pi

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i am the meadowlark
i overtake the night

i am midnight
laughing and dancing with the moon

i am a young storm
hurrying to its lover’s arms

i am the rain
i am the scarlet water
dripping from buffalo berries

i am your woman of plenty
watching your empty heart in vain
my chest hurts, my eyes hurt
i seek your love

show me your hands
give me your cowardly lips
do not cry
do not be afraid

i am the meadowlark
do not fly away from me
we need each other