Mapping Indigenous Poetry of North America, 1830-1924

"Smokin'" by Hen-toh

Say, he don’ smokin’, jus’ to smokin’, 
Ol’ Injun, long ’go, 
Like he’s do eva’body, eva’wha’ now days. 
Jus’ puff, puffin’ so. 

Long ’go, Injun’, he’s thinkin an’ thinkin’ 
’Bout word he’s want to sent, 
To Great Spirit, somethin’ it’s good one 
To help ’im, what it’s meant; 
Then he’s smokin’ plenty. 

He don’ sed nothin’, jus’ smokin’ an’ think 
Jus’ ’bout that what he’s want. 
He’s do this way long time, himse’f, 
’Til he’s sure it’s that way. 

Don’ tole nobody ’bout it but jus’ hese’f, 
’Cause too much talk no good. 
Whiteman he’s smart, but not foun’ that out yet, 
’Spec’ so no b’lieve it, if he could. 

“Put it in you pipe an’ smoke it”, 
I hear ’im, whiteman say. 
It’s jus’ how he’s do, Ol' Injun, 
Meb’ so, ’at’s how he pray. 

’Cause he don’ like it to talk to Great Spirit, 
An’ tole ’IM it, what mus’ do, 
So he’s think it, an’ smoke carry thinkin’ 
Eva’wha’, up wha’ looks blue. 

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