Wearing the morning star : Native American song-poems / [edited by] Brian Swann.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Swann, Brian.

Gotham Book Mart Collection (University of Pennsylvania)

Language:

English

Multiple languages

Subjects (All):

Indian poetry--North America--Translations into English.

Indian poetry.

North America.

Genre:

Translations.

Penn Provenance:

Gotham Book Mart (former owner) (Gotham Book Mart Collection copy)

Physical Description:

xxv, 178 pages ; 22 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Random House, [1996]

Summary:

As Brian Swann demonstrated in Coming to Light, his compilation of Native American literature, the indigenous peoples of North America have a rich and vibrant oral tradition. With Wearing the Morning Star, Brian Swann presents a new collection of Native American songs that further celebrates this tradition. These are songs of the earth and the sky, songs of mourning and of love, parts of ceremonies and rites and rituals.

Some have themes that are very familiar; others illuminate the complexities and differences of the native cultures. There are songs of derision and threat, ribald songs, hunting chants, and a song sung by an Inuit about the first airplane he ever saw.

. Brian Swann has provided an authoritative introduction and notes for each selection that combine to place the songs in their cultural contexts. He has reworked the original translations where appropriate to allow the modern reader to appreciate and enjoy these remarkable works.

Contents:

Shaman's Song

Song of the Stone

Old Song of the Musk Ox People

Song of the Sea

Avuvnuk's Song

Song of the Musk Ox

Two Songs of Derision

The Widow's Song

Delight in Nature

Song to a Miser

Song to the Spring

Ptarmigan

Lovemaking

Women's Song Duel

To Help Make the Afterbirth Come Out

The Song of Amatoq

It Is Hard to Catch Trout

Netsilik Drum Dances

Songs from Eskimo Point

Inupiat Dance Songs

Teasing Songs

Love Song I

The Old Man

Love Song II

Love Song of Warning

Great Blue Heron Children's Song

Little Boy's Mourning Song

Billy Goat Song

Two Potlatch Songs

Song of a Lover

Love Song of a Man Sent to Hunt Goats to Get Tallow for His Beloved

Love Song

A Boy's Song

Caribou Medicine Songs

Shaming Song for Bushy-Snatch

Shaman Song

Man's Love Song I

Man's Love Song II

Wild Woman's Song

Bear's Song

Beaver's Song

Chinook Songs.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 135-178).

Other Format:

Online version: Wearing the morning star.

ISBN:

0679448276

9780679448273

OCLC:

32820783

Online:

Publisher description