Classic Poem

Prayer to the Black Bear

When the black bear is dead,
when it has been shot by the hunter,
the man sits down on the ground
at the right-hand side of the bear.
Then the man says, praying to it,
" Thank you, friend, that you did not
make me walk about in vain.
Now you have come to take mercy on me
so that I obtain game, that I
may inherit your power of getting easily
with your hands the salmon
that you catch. Now I will press
my right hand against your left hand, "
says the man as he takes hold of
the left paw of the bear. He says,
" O, friend, now we press together
our working hands that you may
give over to me your power
of getting easily with your hands,
friend, " says he. Now it is done
after this, for now he only
skins the bear after this.