The Chemawa American, October 01, 1912, Page 11, Image 11

6
THE
CHEM AW A
AM ERICAN
AH-DE-1 )AII! A II-DE-I )A 11 !
W E IR D V E R S E D E P IC T IN G I N D I A N L IF E A N D CUSTOM
The poem following is from the pen of Dr. Chas. M. Buchanan,
superintendent of the Tnlalip Indian School of the State of W ashing­
ton. The fascinating and weird style of the poem is in the. metre
chosen by Longfellow in writing “ H iaw atha.” The “ Ah-de-dah”
of the poem means “ Alas! Alas!” and is a part of the weird incantation
of the Indians when they flock, periodically, to the white sands of their
beautiful bay at Tnlalip and croon gutteral songs at skyue—their
burying grounds. We consider this a work of great beauty and interest
and are delighted to be able to publish it.
A II DE- DA H ! A H DE- DA H 1
Oh Thou Spirit, all pervading,
Spirit dwelling in the mountain,
In the plain and in the water,
In the air and all above it.
Everywhere that time and space are,
Even where m an’s foot hath gone not,
W here there is no sound of calling,
H unting, feasting, nor of war cry,
Nor of singing, weeping, wailing,
W here not even joy nor pain are—
Even there Thou art, Great Spirit,
Brooding over all creation.
Everything that is, thou knowest,
Everything that is, thou seest,
Everything that is, thou wiliest,
Everything that is, thou judgest.
Judge me also, Doh-kay-bahtlh,
Thou whose wish is strong as law is,
W hether spoken or unuttered
Matters not, for Doh-kay-bahtlh,
Thou art strongest of the people,
Supernatural and eternal!
See my wish and what compels it,
All my heart and what is in it,
All my being and what thrills it.
Judge me then, and bending lowly,
Hear the wish I speak to Thee.