Classic Poem

After the rushing waters had subsided the Lenape of the turtle were close together, in hollow houses, living together there.
It freezes where they abode, it snows where they abode, it storms where they abode, it is cold where they abode.
At this northern place they speak favorably of mild, cool lands, with many deer and buffaloes.
As they journeyed, some being strong, some rich, they separated into house-builders and hunters;
The strongest, the most united, the purest, were the hunters.
The hunters showed themselves at the north, at the east, at the south, at the west.
In that ancient country, in that northern country, in that turtle country, the best of the Lenape were the Turtle men.
All the cabin fires of that land were disquieted, and all said to their priest, “Let us go.”
To the Snake land to the east they went forth, going away, earnestly grieving.
Split asunder, weak, trembling, their land burned, they went, torn and broken, to the Snake Island.
Those from the north being free, without care, went forth from the land of snow, in different directions.
The fathers of the Bald Eagle and the White Wolf remain along the sea, rich in fish and muscles.
Floating up the streams in their canoes, our fathers were rich, they were in the light, when they were at those islands.
Head Beaver and Big Bird said,
“Let us go to Snake Island,” they said.
All say they will go along to destroy all the land.

Those of the north agreed,
Those of the east agreed.
Over the water, the frozen sea,
They went to enjoy it.

On the wonderful, slippery water,
On the stone-hard water all went,
On the great Tidal Sea, the muscle-bearing sea.

Ten thousand at night,
All in one night,
To the Snake Island, to the east, at night,
They walk and walk, all of them.
The men from the north, the east, the south,
The Eagle clan, the Beaver clan, the Wolf clan,
The best men, the rich men, the head men,
Those with wives, those with daughters, those with dogs,
They all come, they tarry at the land of the spruce pines;
Those from the west come with hesitation,
Esteeming highly their old home at the Turtle land.