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 |