Waves sonorous against the prow,
flowing astern quietly, softly.
Lay the feather down,
NETOP. WEQUANTIG. Candle, light.
UNHAPPO KOSH? Is your father
home? NUCQUIQUATCH.
I am cold. POTOUWASSITEUCK.
Let us make a fire. NOTE,
NOTAWESE, little
fire. AWAUO? Who is at home?
ACAWMUCK NOTESHEM. I came
over the water.
How doth your wife? ASPAUMPMAUNTAM
COMMITTAMUS? I came from far,
NAWWATUCK NOTESHEM.
TAUBOT PAUMPMAUNTAMAN. I am
glad you are well. Eyes. WUSKEESQUASH.
Where are your eyes?
TIYUSH KUSSKEESUCKQUASH? Mouth.
WUTTONE. Tongue. WEENAT.
MAPANNOG. Breast.
WUNNICHEKE. Hand. I am tired.
WUNNEGIN, COWISH. Welcome,
sleep here. NOTE.
11.19.2003
A little more from In RI. (The poem was written some years before Rosmarie Waldrop published her "take" on Roger Williams' Key Into the Language of America.)
Labels:
In RI,
Roger Williams,
Rosmarie Waldrop
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