Pebble in my Moccasin: Solomon Ratt (th-dialect)

A new poem from Solomon Ratt that we can listen to as we read along! The enviable mocs in the photo – that would make anyone want to walk in a good way – are the work of his niece, Tammy Joan Ratt.

kîspin ta-kî-wâpamisoyan
kâ-isi-wâpamitân
kika-kî-sâkihisohtay
kâ-isi-sâkihitân
ᑮᐢᐱᐣ ᑕ ᑮ ᐚᐸᒥᓱᔭᐣ
ᑳ ᐃᓯ ᐚᐸᒥᑖᐣ
ᑭᑲ ᑮ ᓵᑭᐦᐃᓱᐦᑕᐩ
ᑳ ᐃᓯ ᓵᑭᐦᐃᑖᐣ
If you can see yourself
as I see you
you would love yourself
as I love you
kîtha ôma asinîs nipahkîkinaskisinihk
kîspin kipihciyâni ta-îkatînak
nika-ati-mitho-pimohtân
kika-ati-mitho-wîciwitin
ᑮᖬ ᐆᒪ ᐊᓯᓃᐢ ᓂᐸᐦᑮᑭᓇᐢᑭᓯᓂᕽ
ᑮᐢᐱᐣ ᑭᐱᐦᒋᔮᓂ ᑕ ᐄᑲᑏᓇᐠ
ᓂᑲ ᐊᑎ ᒥᖪ ᐱᒧᐦᑖᐣ
ᑭᑲ ᐊᑎ ᒥᖪ ᐑᒋᐏᑎᐣ
You are the pebble in my moccasin
If I stop to take it away
I will start to walk a good path
I will start to accompany you in a good way
kîtha ôma asinîs nipahkîkinaskisinihk
kîspin îkâ kipihciyâni ta-îkatînak
nika-ati-mâthi-pimohtân
kika-ati-nôhtî-nakatitin
ᑮᖬ ᐆᒪ ᐊᓯᓃᐢ ᓂᐸᐦᑮᑭᓇᐢᑭᓯᓂᕽ
ᑮᐢᐱᐣ ᐄᑳ ᑭᐱᐦᒋᔮᓂ ᑕ ᐄᑲᑏᓇᐠ
ᓂᑲ ᐊᑎ ᒫᖨ ᐱᒧᐦᑖᐣ
ᑭᑲ ᐊᑎ ᓅᐦᑏ ᓇᑲᑎᑎᐣ
You are the pebble in my moccasin
If I don’t stop to take it away
I will start to walk a bad path
I will start wanting to leave you
kîspin ta-kî-wâpamisoyân
kâ-isi-wâpamiyan
nika-kî-sâkihisohtay
kâ-isi-sâkihiyan
ᑮᐢᐱᐣ ᑕ ᑮ ᐚᐸᒥᓱᔮᐣ
ᑳ ᐃᓯ ᐚᐸᒥᔭᐣ
ᓂᑲ ᑮ ᓵᑭᐦᐃᓱᐦᑕᐩ
ᑳ ᐃᓯ ᓵᑭᐦᐃᔭᐣ
If I can see myself
As you see me
I would love myself
As you love me

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