Creation Story (Munsee Lenape)

Nanapush spread the clay upon the mother turtle's
back,
She knew what she had to do and she never did look
back.
As she grew and grew into this land that we call home,
She thought about her children whom upon her back
would roam.

The Earth wrapped itself around her and molded to her
breast,
The loving warmth enclosed her and laid her to her
rest.
The land rose above her, her day became night,
Her body grew heavy, but her heart grew so light.

The little ones she left behind, playing in the water
so clear,
It's for them she did this thing, because life is so
dear.
Her heart inside swelled with love, a tear slipped
from her eye,
And though a part of her was gone, she would never say
goodbye.

For many years she slept within the Earth's comforting
embrace,
She was awakened from her slumber byt he vision of a
face.
"Xuhkne," her child cried, "We need you once again!"
"the world above you is in pain, filled with anguished
men."

"They have no faith to nourish them, they have no hope
inside."
"Xuhkne, Our Mother, I cannot help, I've tried!"
"I've given all that I know how, I don't know what to
do."
"Xuhkne, Our Mother, WE NEED YOU!"

Xuhkne heard the words and felt them deep inside,
"After all these years," she thought, "they;ve
overcome thir pride."
"Their foolishness is at an end, their hearts and
minds can see!"
And so she sent an answer, a whispering wind through a
tree.

The breeze stirred a memory within the woman's soul,
The part of her that had died now became whole.
Her mother's love rained down on her, on that sunny
day,
The solution was so simple, she had to find a way!
She ran back to her village with an answer to her
Prayer.

How could she have been so blind to think she didn't
care?
The lesson was an old one, one passed from long ago,
If you really love something, you have to help it
grow.
She cried out to The People, tears streaming down her
face,
"How could we have been so cruel to ruin such a
perfect place?"

"Xuhkne, Our Mother, is not pleased with our choice,"
"And so she sent the whispering wind to be her subtle
voice."
"Once we were the caretakers of all that we could
see,"
"We were a happy people, just content to be."

The People looked around and finally were aware,
They sang songs and drummed again, to show that they
would care.
Xuhkne below and Keeshlameekong above,
Looked down upon their children with unconditional
love.

As The People prayed that night, soft words touched
each ear,
"When you hear the whispering wind, you'll know that
we are near."

by James Running Turtle
(Indian-Outlaw)