The Love Blessing

by Anonymous Hocąk Women

"A Winnebago maiden dreamed of a mythical Dakota woman famed for her many lovers and for her great power of inspiring love. On awakening, the maiden felt herself impelled to lead the same kind of life. At once she composed this song, in which she tells another woman of the miraculous power that has come upon her. This song is only a few years old."

Love Song I

Hi-zhan ho-do-chuch-ka, Hižą́ hotuxučga, When I look upon someone,
Zhe-ske shu-nu-na; Žesgešųnųną; Thus he would be;
Hi-zhan wa-ki-t'-eh-ka, Hižą́ wakit'ega, When I myself speak to someone,
Zhe-ske shu-nu-na; Žesgešųnųną; Thus he would be;
Hi-zhan wai-zhi-zi-ka, Hižą́ waižižiga, If I whisper to someone,
Zhe-ske shu-nu-na; Žesgešųnųną; Thus he would be;
Hi-cha-ko-lo, hi-nuk lo-in-na-gle wi-do-kan-na-na; Hičakáro, hinųk roįnagre, hitukananą; Friends, I rule over those who love women;
Hi-zhan do-mai-ku-ka, Hižą́ tomaįk'oga (?), If I destroy (?) someone,
Zhe-ske shu-nu-na. Žesgešųnųną. Thus he would be. [1]

"In the summer of the olden time there might often be heard at eventide the call of flutes. It was the youths upon the hill-side piping love-songs. Every one may know a love-song when he hears it, for the flute-tones are long and languorous, and are filled with a soft tremor. When a maiden heard the flute-music of her lover without, she always found it necessary to leave the tipi to draw water or to visit some neighbor.

In this song the maid asks leave of her mother to go to see her uncle, but the music tells that it is really her lover to whom she is going. The old people were not often deceived when the flute-music sounded."

Love Song II

Na-ni dega-go Nani, tegago, Mother, to my uncle,
E-dja wa-de-kjela! Éja watekjera! There I shall go! [2]
Commentary. "a few years old" — as of 1905.

Comparative Material. ...

Links: ...

Stories: mentioning the Sioux (Šąhą): The Sioux Warparty and the Waterspirit of Green Lake, Origin of the Name "Milwaukee", Little Priest's Game, Berdache Origin Myth, Great Walker's Warpath, Potato Magic, The Masaxe War, White Flower, The Man who Fought against Forty, First Contact (vv. 2-3), The Omahas who turned into Snakes, Run for Your Life, Introduction.

Themes: ...

Songs. Bladder, Song about the Older Brother (v. 2), Bladder, Song about the Older Brother (v. 3), Buffalo Dance Songs, Clan Songs, Bear Clan, Clan Songs, Bear Clan, Song for Returning, Clan Songs, Bear Clan, Song for Starting Out, Clan Song, Bear Clan, Song of the Youngest, Clan Songs, Buffalo Clan, Clan Songs, Buffalo Clan, The Four Songs of Hojanoka, Clan Songs—Deer Clan, Clan Songs—Wolf Clan, Clan Songs—Wonáǧire Wąkšik Clan, The Crawfish's Song, Duck Song, Farewell Songs, The Four Services Songs, Grandfather Sparrow's Rain Songs, Grizzly Bear Songs, Hare's Song to Grasshopper, Hare's Song to the Wągepanįgera, Hare's Song to Wildcat, Hawk's Song, Heroka Songs, Holy Song, Holy Song II, Little Fox's Death Song, Little Fox's Death Song (for the Warpath), Little Fox's Tail Song, Love Song I (female), Love Song II (female), Love Song III (female), The Mouse Song, Nightspirit Songs, The Quail's Song, Redman's Song, Slow Song of the Heroka, Soldier Dance Songs, Song for Calling the Buffalo, Song from the Water, Song from the Water (King Bird), The Song of Bluehorn's Sister, Hočąk Text — The Song of Sun Caught in a Net, The Song of the Boy Transformed into a Robin, Song of the Frog to Hare, Song of the Thunder Nestlings, The Song of Trickster's Baby, Song to Earthmaker, The Song to the Elephant, The Sun's Song to Hare, Three Warrior Songs, Turtle's Call for a Warparty (v. 1), Turtle's Call for a Warparty (v. 2), Turtle's Four Death Dance Songs, Twins, Ghost's Song (v. 1), Twins, Ghost's Song (v. 2), Twins, Ghost's Song (The Two Brothers), Twins, the Songs of Ghost and Flesh, Twins, Song of the Father-in-Law, Victory Song, Wailing Song, Warrior Song about Mąčosepka, What a Turtle Sang in His Sleep, Wolf-Teasing Song of the Deer Spirits. Songs in the McKern collection: Waking Songs (27, 55, 56, 57, 58) War Song: The Black Grizzly (312), War Song: Dream Song (312), War Song: White Cloud (313), James’ Horse (313), Little Priest Songs (309), Little Priest's Song (316), Chipmunk Game Song (73), Patriotic Songs from World War I (105, 106, 175), Grave Site Song: "Coming Down the Path" (45), Songs of the Stick Ceremony (53).

Notes

[1] Natalie Curtis Burlin, The Indians' Book: an Offering by the American Indians of Indian Lore, Musical and Narrative, to Form a Record of the Songs and Legends of Their Race (New York: Harper and Brothers, 1907) 261-262.

[2] Curtis, The Indians' Book, 261.