John Whirlwind’s Doublebeat Songs, 1956

Audio: Read by the author.

Menwi - yakwatoni - beskonewiani.
Kyebakewina - maneniaki
ketekattiki
ebemanemateki
ebemanemateki

     *

Good-smelling are these flowers.
As it turned out, they were milkweeds
dance-standing
as the wind passes by,
as the wind passes by.

 

Inike - ekatai - waseyaki
netena - wasesi.
Memettine
beskattenetisono.
Memettine.

     *

It is now almost daylight,
I said to the firefly.
For the last time
illuminate yourself.
For the last time.