by Ofelia Zepeda, 2015




Carrying Our Words

 

(English translation from O'odham)

 

We travel carrying our words.
We arrive at the ocean.
With our words we are able to speak
of the sounds of thunderous waves.
We speak of how majestic it is,
of the ocean power that gifts us songs.
We sing of our respect
and call it our relative.

 

 

’U’a g T-ñi’okı˘   (original version)

 

T-ñi’okı˘ ’att ’an o ’u’akc o hihi
Am ka:ck wui dada.
S-ap ‘am o ’a: mo has ma:s g kiod.
mat ’am ’ed.a betank ’i-gei.

 

 

 

More information on Ofelia Zepeda

 





Poetry by Editorial Team The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 1503 times
Written on 2017-10-25 at 02:38

Tags Native  American 

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one trick pony The PoetBay support member heart!
thank you for this. there is good information online about the O'odham language, and examples of the author reciting (but i couldn't make it work). i love this poem.
2017-10-27


shells
I love the ocean and this is excellent, it sings to me on both a poetic and personal level.
2017-10-26