Wearing the morning star : Native American song-poems

Book

Wearing the morning star : Native American song-poems / [edited by] Brian Swann ; with a preface by the author.

Summary:

"With Wearing the Morning Star, Brian Swann presents a collection of more than one hundred Native American songs that celebrate the rich and vibrant oral traditions of the Indigenous peoples of North America. These are songs of the earth and the sky, songs of mourning and of love, parts of ceremonies and rites and rituals. Some have familiar themes; others illuminate the complexities and differences of the Native cultures. The collection includes songs of derision and threat, ribald songs, hunting chants, and a song sung by an Inuit about the first airplane he ever saw."

"Swann has provided an authoritative introduction and notes for each selection that place the songs in their cultural contexts. He has reworked the original translations where appropriate to allow the modern reader to appreciate and enjoy these remarkable works and provides a new preface for this Bison Books edition."--Jacket.

Record details

ISBN: 0803293402
ISBN: 9780803293403
Physical Description: xxix, 180 pages ; 20 cm
Publisher: Lincoln : University of Nebraska Press, ©2005.

Content descriptions

General Note:: Originally published: New York : Random House, ©1996.
Bibliography, etc. Note:: Includes bibliographical references.
Formatted Contents Note:: Shaman's song -- Song of the stone -- Old song of the Musk Ox People -- Song of the sea -- Avuvnuk's song -- Song of the musk ox -- Two songs of derision -- The widow's song -- Delight in nature -- Song to a miser -- Song to the spring -- Ptarmigan -- Lovemaking -- Women's song duel -- To help make the afterbirth come out -- The song of Amatoq -- It is hard to catch trout -- Netsilik drum dances -- Songs from Eskimo Point -- Inupiat dance songs -- Teasing songs -- Love song I -- The old man -- Love song II -- Love song of warning -- Great blue heron children's song -- Little boy's mourning song -- Billy goat song -- Two potlatch songs -- Song of a lover.