and played in the frolicsome waters,
Where the foaming tide tumbles and twirls
o'er the murmuring rocks in the rapids;
And whiter than foam were the pearls
that gleamed in the midst of her laughter.
Long and dark was her flowing hair flung,
like the robe of the night to the breezes;
And gay as the robin she sung,
or the gold-breasted lark of the meadows.
Like the wings of the wind were her feet,
and as sure as the feet of Ta-to-ka; [b]
And oft like an antelope fleet
o'er the hills and the prairies she bounded,
Lightly laughing in sport as she ran,
and looking back over her shoulder,
At the fleet footed maiden or man,
that vainly her flying steps followed.
The belle of the village was she,
and the pride of the aged Ta-te-psin,
Like a sunbeam she lighted his tee,
and gladdened the heart of her father.

[a] Ta te--Wind, Psin--Wild Rice,--wild rice wind.
[b] The Mountain Antelope.

In the golden hued Wazu-pe-wee
--the moon when the wild rice is gathered;
When the leaves on the tall sugar-tree
are as red as the breast of the robin,
And the red-oaks that border the lea