In that part of the Navajo reservation
there are landmarks and mountains and places
that have Navajo names, and stories attached to that.
And one of the songs that comes out of the mountains
is a much longer song.
And I just took an excerpt from that, and wrote it in Navajo
and then translated into English.
So there are some bilingual poems in this book.
"Many Horses."
"The day you arrived on your turquoise horse,
I was already riding my rainbow horse,
as we were promised beautiful horses
to carry us into this world.
On this rain-blessed Earth, you will pause at Ch'ooshgai
to sing.
Dził bich’ᶖ’ yishááł, I am approaching the mountain.
Dził bikáá' haashá, I am ascending the mountain.
Dził bikáá' naashá, I am walking on the mountain.
Dził bą́ą́hdóó 'adaashááh, I am descending the mountain.
Dził bits'ą́ą́hi' dah diishááh, I am leaving the mountain.
I wait for you at the mouth of Deep-Within-the-Rock.
You arrive wearing the scent of sage,
and this mountain song pouring from the cup of your heart,
the way the Diné spiraled into this world protected with
a song.
I recognize you by your sweet song and your horse.
We urge our horses on, tracks embedded in the sand."