Native American

White Buffalo Woman


This is a central myth of the Plains tribes, especially the Lakota, or Sioux. It tells how the Lakota first received their sacred pipe and the ceremony in which to use it. It has often been related, for example by Black Elk, Lame Deer and Looks for Buffalo.

In the days before the Lakota had horses on which to hunt the buffalo, food was often scarce. One summer when the Lakota nation had camped together, there was very little to eat. Two young men of the Itazipcho band – the ‘Without-Bows’ – decided they would rise early and look for game. They left the camp while the dogs were still yawning, and set out across the plain, accompanied only by the song of the yellow meadowlark.

After a while the day began to grow warm. Crickets chirruped in the waving grass, prairie dogs darted into their holes as the braves approached, but still there was no real game. So the young men made towards a little hill from which they would see further across the vast expanse of level prairie. Reaching it, they shielded their eyes and scanned the distance, but what they saw coming out of the growing heat haze was something bright, that seemed to go on two legs, not four. In a while they could see that it was a very beautiful woman in shining white buckskin.

As the woman came closer, they could see that her buckskin was wonderfully decorated with sacred designs in rainbow-coloured porcupine quills. She carried a bundle on her back, and a fan of fragrant sage leaves in her hand. Her jet-black hair was loose, except for a single strand tied with buffalo fur. Her eyes were full of light and power, and the young men were transfixed.
Now one of the men was filled with a burning desire. ‘What a woman!’ he said sideways to his friend. ‘And all alone on the prairie. I’m going to make the most of this!’

‘You fool,’ said the other. ‘This woman is holy.’

But the foolish one had made up his mind, and when the woman beckoned him towards her, he needed no second invitation. As he reached out for her, they were both enveloped in a great cloud. When it lifted, the woman stood there, while at her feet was nothing but a pile of bones with terrible snakes writhing among them.

‘Behold,’ said the woman to the good brave. ‘I am coming to your people with a message from Tatanka Oyate, the buffalo nation. Return to Chief Standing Hollow Horn and tell him what you have seen. Tell him to prepare a tipi large enough for all his people, and to get ready for my coming.’

The young man ran back across the prairie and was gasping for breath as he reached his camp. With a small crowd of people already following him, he found Standing Hollow Horn and told him what had happened, and that the woman was coming. The chief ordered several tipis to be combined into one big enough for his band. The people waited excitedly for the woman to arrive.
After four days the scouts posted to watch for the holy woman saw something coming towards them in a beautiful manner from across the prairie. Then suddenly the woman was in the great lodge, walking round it in a sunwise direction. She stopped before Standing Hollow Horn in the west of the lodge, and held her bundle before him in both hands.

‘Look on this,’ she said, ‘and always love and respect it. No one who is impure should ever touch this bundle, for it contains the sacred pipe.’

She unrolled the skin bundle and took out a pipe, and a small round stone which she put down on the ground.

‘With this pipe you will walk on the earth, which is your grandmother and your mother. The earth is sacred, and so is every step that you take on her. The bowl of the pipe is of red stone; it is the earth. Carved into it and facing the centre is the buffalo calf, who stands for all the four-leggeds. The stem is of wood, which stands for all that grows on the earth. These twelve hanging feathers from the Spotted Eagle stand for all the winged creatures. All these living things of the universe are the children of Mother Earth. You are all joined as one family, and you will be reminded of this when you smoke the pipe. Treat this pipe and the earth with respect, and your people will increase and prosper.’

The woman told them that seven circles carved on the stone represented the seven rites in which the people would learn to use the sacred pipe. The first was for the rite of ‘keeping the soul’, which she now taught them. The remaining rites they would learn in due course.

The woman made as if to leave the lodge, but then she turned and spoke to Standing Hollow Horn again. ‘This pipe will carry you to the end. Remember that in me there are four ages. I am going now, but I will look on your people in every age, and at the end I will return.’

She now walked slowly around the lodge in a sunwise direction. The people were silent and filled with awe. Even the hungry young children watched her, their eyes alive with wonder. Then she left. But after she had walked a short distance, she faced the people again and sat down on the prairie. The people gazing after her were amazed to see that when she stood up she had become a young red and brown buffalo calf. The calf walked further into the prairie, and then lay down and rolled over, looking back at the people.

When she stood up she was a white buffalo. The white buffalo walked on until she was a bright speck in the distant prairie, and then rolled over again, and became a black buffalo. This buffalo walked away, stopped, bowed to the four directions of the earth, and finally disappeared over the hill.

Joseph Chasing Horse

http://www.livingmyths.com/Native.htm

Dear Diary,

Today I was helping my mother and grandmother tan the hides of one of the buffalo that my father and brothers brought back from their last hunting trip. I was thinking about the pipe ceremony that we are going to have this afternoon and I asked my grand mother about why we have this ceremony. So she told me the story of the White Buffalo Woman. It was a very interesting story.Even though I am not treated with the same respect as the Lakota boys in my village, I think that women are just as important. The White Buffalo Woman is very sacred to our tribe and she is a woman! If the boy in the story had treated her with respect then he probably would not have been killed.So far this is my favorite story because it shows the power of women, and how men need to treat all people with respect. Also I love white buffalo, to me thay are the most beautiful creatures, which is an obvious reason why they are the most sacred animals in our culture.Well I have to go because I have to help my mother prepare for the ceremony, and the dinner that we are going to have afterwards.

Ewahee- "laughing maiden"

William Bradford

September 6, 1620

These troubles being blown over, and now all being compact together in one ship, they put to sea again with a prosperous wind, which continued divers days together, which was some encouragement unto them; yet, according to the usual manner, many were afflicted with seasickness. And I may not omit here a special work of God’s providence. There was a proud and very profane young man, one of the seamen, of a lusty, able body, which made him the more haughty; he would always be contemning the poor people in their sickness and cursing them daily with grievous execrations; and did not let to tell them that he hoped to help to cast half of them overboard before they came to their journey’s end, and to make merry with what they had; and if he Were by any gently reproved, he would curse and swear most bitterly. But it pleased God before they came half seas over, to smite this young man with a grievous disease, of which he died in a desperate manner, and so was himself the first that was thrown overboard. Thus his curses light on his own head, and it was an astonishment to all his fellows for they noted it to be the just hand of God upon him.

After they had enjoyed fair winds and weather for a season, they were encountered many times with cross winds and met with many fierce storms with which the ship was soundly shaken, and her upper works made very leaky; and one of the main beams in the mid-ship was bowed and cracked, which put them in some fear that the ship could not be able to perform the voyage. So some of the chief of the company, perceiving the mariners to fear the insufficiency of the ship as appeared by their mutterings, they entered into serious consultation with the master and other officers of the ship, to consider in time of the danger, and rather to return than to cast themselves into a desperate and inevitable peril. And truly there was great distraction and difference of opinion amongst the mariners themselves; fain would they do what could be done for their wages’ sake (being now near half the seas over) and on the other hand they were loath to hazard their lives too desperately. But in examining of all opinions, the master and others affirmed they knew the ship to be strong and firm under water; and for the buckling of the main beam, there was a great iron screw the passengers brought out of Holland, which would raise the beam into his place; the which being done, the carpenter and master affirmed that with a post put under it, set firm in the lower deck and otherwise bound, he would make it sufficient. And as for the decks and upper works, they would caulk them as well as they could, and though with the working of the ship they would not long keep staunch, yet there would otherwise be no great danger, if they did not over-press her with sails. So they committed themselves to the will of God and resolved to proceed.

http://spider.georgetowncollege.edu/english/coke/bradford.htm

Reflection:

A huge fear of the puritans who came to America first was the ship breaking. They also felt that they had to rely completely on god for everything. Everything is gods will including men getting sick and dying. This strong sense of religion was what held them together and it was what made them want to come to America. They did not want to be persecuted anymore for what they believed in. This religious background is very important to the American dream because though persecution is not completely gone in America there is less so people feel safer.

Dear Diary,

Today has been another incredibly long day here on board this boat. Tomorrow we will have been on this cursed ship for 2 whole months. I have been reading "Of Plymouth Plantation", a book my mother gave me about the very first people to come to America and I have to say that I whole heartedly agree with them and know just what they were feeling in their ship. In the book there is a man who curses a lot and then he gets sick and dies. Though nobody had died yet (thank God), but most of the sailors here are like the man in the story. They cuss and are rude and sometimes I wish that they would get thrown overboard but then who would be here to take control of the ship so I am glad that they are here. Another problem that the people in the book faced was a fear of the boat breaking or sinking. Though this is my first time on a giant ship like this I have always been afraid if sinking or drowning. That is why I stay up on the top deck most of the day, it’s where I'm at right now. Well, I have to go but I will write again soon.

Nicole Kilbourne

Anne Bradstreet

To my Dear and Loving Husband

If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were lov'd by wife, then thee.
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole Mines of gold
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that Rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee give recompetence.
Thy love is such I can no way repay.
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
Then while we live, in love let's so persever
That when we live no more, we may live ever

Reflection/Chart:

Name and type:
To my Dear and Loving Husband; it is a lyric poem

Mood:
I feel peaceful and serene thinking of such a love that the wife has for her husband

Tone:
She feels in love at the time when the poem was written

Speaker:
The speaker is a wife missing her husband

Repetition:
She repeats “if ever” to show the many examples of her love

Imagery:
One good image in this poem is “mines of gold” because it shows how much she prizes her husbands love

Style:
She writes in plain style because she refers to common day items

Rhyme:
Every two lines rhyme

Verses Upon the Burning of Our House

In silent night when rest I took,
For sorrow near I did not look,
I waken'd was with thund'ring noise
And piteous shrieks of dreadful voice.
That fearful sound of "fire" and "fire,"
Let no man know is my Desire.
I starting up, the light did spy,
And to my God my heart did cry
To straighten me in my Distress
And not to leave me succourless.
Then coming out, behold a space
The flame consume my dwelling place.
And when I could no longer look,
I blest his grace that gave and took,
That laid my goods now in the dust.
Yea, so it was, and so 'twas just.
It was his own; it was not mine.
Far be it that I should repine,
He might of all justly bereft
But yet sufficient for us left.
When by the Ruins oft I past
My sorrowing eyes aside did cast
And here and there the places spy
Where oft I sate and long did lie.
Here stood that Trunk, and there that chest,
There lay that store I counted best,
My pleasant things in ashes lie
And them behold no more shall I.
Under the roof no guest shall sit,
Nor at thy Table eat a bit.
No pleasant talk shall 'ere be told
Nor things recounted done of old.
No Candle 'ere shall shine in Thee,
Nor bridegroom's voice ere heard shall bee.
In silence ever shalt thou lie.
Adieu, Adieu, All's Vanity.
Then straight I 'gin my heart to chide:
And did thy wealth on earth abide,
Didst fix thy hope on mouldring dust,
The arm of flesh didst make thy trust?
Raise up thy thoughts above the sky
That dunghill mists away may fly.
Thou hast a house on high erect
Fram'd by that mighty Architect,
With glory richly furnished
Stands permanent, though this be fled.
It's purchased and paid for too
By him who hath enough to do.
A price so vast as is unknown,
Yet by his gift is made thine own.
There's wealth enough; I need no more.
Farewell, my pelf; farewell, my store.
The world no longer let me love;
My hope and Treasure lies above.

Reflection/Chart:

Name and type:
Verses upon the burning of our house; narrative

Mood:
When reading this poem I feel sad because any person’s house burning down is sad because they have pretty much lost everything

Tone:
First she is suffering and feels like she has lost everything but then she realizes that she is being vain and feels comforted by God

Speaker:
The speaker is a puritan woman whose house burned down.

Repetition:
She repeats fire to show how scared she is

Imagery:
She creates vivid images in her writing

Style:
She writes in plain style because she refers to common day items

Rhyme:
Every other line rhymes


Upon Some Distemper of Body

In anguish of my heart replete with woes,
And wasting pains, which best my body knows,
In tossing slumbers on my wakeful bed,
Bedrenched with tears that flowed from mournful head,
Till nature had exhausted all her store,
Then eyes lay dry, disabled to weep more;
And looking up unto his throne on high,
Who sendeth help to those in misery;
He chased away those clouds and let me see
My anchor cast i' th' vale with safety.
He eased my soul of woe, my flesh of pain,
and brought me to the shore from troubled main.

Reflection/chart:

Name and type:
Upon Some Distemper of Body; it is a narrative poem

Mood:
I feel sad because I don’t like it when any other people are in pain.

Tone:
She feels sick mournful and anguished because she is sick and in those days they really didn’t have any medicine and doctors and she could die.

Speaker:
The speaker is person who is sick

Repetition:
There is no repetition

Imagery:
Eyes lay dry, looking up unto his throne on high, He chased away those clouds

Style:
She writes in plain style because she refers to common day items

Rhyme:
Every two lines rhyme

Anne Bradstreet
http://www.annebradstreet.com/



Dear Diary,

This past week has been very hard for me because my home burned down and my husband had to leave for a little while. Though it has been hard getting through the tragedy of my house, I know that god will always be there and he is the all time author of my life. Though I know that he is the author I do wish that he had taken better care of me and not had my house burned to the ground, in it all of my memories gone. But alas I should not be saying these things because it is not the puritain way. Well I will write again soon

A.B.

Edward Taylor

Reflection/Chart:

Name and type:
Huswifery; it is a Narrative poem

Mood:
I feel jealous that he has such a good relationship with God

Tone:
he feels love and gratitude towards God

Speaker:
The speaker is man longing for the best relationship with God

Repetition:
She repeats “make me” to show that he longs for god to do his will in his life

Imagery:
good imagry in this poem is “Spoole, Fulling Mills, Colours Choice ” because it shows the different ways he wants to be made by God

Style:
He writes in plain style because he refers to common day items

Rhyme:
Every other line rhymes

In the poem Huswifery Edward Taylor expresses his desire for God’s grace through extended metaphor, repetition, and diction. The poet changes from beginning to end. It is a prayer for grace. Grace transforms poet or oneself from coarse imperfections to shining purity. Transformation of turning fuzzy wool into majestic robes. Religious poetry --> conceit emphasizes the underlying unity among all things in God’s creationTaylor compares granting of grace to housewife making homespun clothes

http://www.puritansermons.com/poetry/taylor.htm

Dear Diary,

I write this diary to you oh lord, for I know that you will hear my prayers. I wrote you this poem to show you, and the world, that you are the first in my life and I want to be like you in all that I do. I want you to love me and sew into me your word so that I may never forget the great love that you have for me. I also want you to use me to help others come to know you lord as I know you. I like many other puritans feel that what ever you decide to accomplish with our lives it will always be the best. One of my dear friends died last week and I was very heartbroken for a little while but then I realized that he is with you in heaven and I should have nothing to be sad about.

Edward Taylor