Read by the Author

A Kesh Poem from Always Coming Home

According to the notes to the sound-tape that accompanied the first edition of Always Coming Home, these poems will have been going to be recorded on site in the Valley of the Na, by the archeologist Pandora, a very long time from now. According to other sources, they were recorded in Todd Barton's studio in Ashland, by Tabit and Intrumo, in 1985. The language is Kesh.

"Twilight Song" is a lyric improvised by the poet Giver, Ire's daughter, in the twilight of evening in summer, down by Sinshan Creek, with the collaboration of a local owl.

Goutun Onkama

Aó ta búv
um bodan han gehwol
chemheya sosónkama
hwavgedíúv goupraguan
hanheyiya:

hú, hú-ú, hú, hú.

Inye opal dut rechav búya
óganaian vón oudan
kleheya sosónkama
aóya haítropoud gotomhoi:

kaa-rigk, kaa-rigk.

Twilight Song

The male of the great horned owl
in a voice like blowing into a hollow jar
sings the five-note heya
in the twilight of morning
in a sacred manner:

hoo, hoo-oo, hoo, hoo.

The small frog whom he is hunting
in the creek bottom among shadows
sings the four-note heya
in a fearless and contented voice

kaa-rigk, kaa-rigk!