Emerging
By Jake Skeets
Act I: Níyol
Dah adii’ąągo dá’ák’ehgóó deeshwoł.
Act II: Chahałheeł
Once upon a time, { five-fingered being cold air
sunrise } stepped into a sentence: Nizhónígo bi’éé’ holǫǫ
dooleeł. Éé’tsoh diłhiłgo yii’ doo’nah. They stepped
further into the words. There is water; łeets’aa’ nímazí
shee hólǫ. There is a meadow, a winter’s meadow,
gathering in a bright morning.
Act III: Dąąn
Shándíín;
Hootsoh ayóo bits’ą’dinídíín.
Saad ‘adííłhéelgo yiiłtsą.
Act IV: Shį
Bóhoosh’aah
I stand in the sun
with an empty bowl
meant for a river
Notes:
Audio version performed by the author.
Source:
Poetry
(July/August 2022)
