The Kiwago Indians

At the center of the council ring Donald Kauth 

     in the feathered bonnet

 t

  and scant raiment of a Chief
          (over his bathing suit)

begins the solemn ceremony
     before the astonished eyes

of Harlem and Bensonhurst

As twilight deepens, Wakonda himself

the Great Spirit

  miraculously lights the central fire

which crackles and leaps house-high 

  (with some help from Gregory Corso

  who pulls the string)

The calumet is pointed to the four corners

  to the hot wind

  that he come not in his strength

  to the east, to the north, and to the west wind

  Eyune keyuniósneh nunweh!

After the Deer Dance 

  and four choruses of Shonni-Monni

  each kid is given a white wax candle

lit round the ring from the central fire

          Rise up old flame 

(they sing)

  by thy light glowing
          show to us beauty 

  vision and joy

We are the red men!

  feathers in our head men!

down among the dead men!  
  Pow wow!

A kerosine arrow arched to the lake below

signals the Chief’s departure

  (in an aluminum canoe)

and a straggling line of kids

  each guarding a candle 

  against the night

wend their way to the flagpole for taps

               Day is done

gone the sun

from the lake, from the hills, from the sky

all is well, safely rest

God is nigh

Nunweh!