From crime@acs.bu.edu Wed Feb 14 16:22:33 1996
Date: Wed, 14 Feb 1996 07:24:17 -0500 (EST)
From: mary self
To: David Tremel
Cc: mary self
Subject: Chakotay’s Song
DISCLAIMERS: The character belongs to Paramount, but the work is mine.
I wish to convey my most heartfelt appeciation to all Native American
writers, oral composers, etc., both past and present, whose work substantially
influenced this piece. I hope that my clumsy attempt to incoporate some of
their techniques does not offend or in any way diminish the beauty of their
works.
Chakotay’s Song
by Carly Hunter
copyright 1996
Akoo-cheemoya
I walk through these corridors
I know them well
Circles within circles
It is a ship of life
Slow is my step.
My wife died a year ago
Yet still I love her
She geve me two fine children
I can ask for nothing else
That night I held her gnarled hand
As beautiful as when I first held it
We kissed and swore our love
She is a part of me
I am a part of her
Our circle remains unbroken
She understood.
I am a father three times
I am a grandfather twice
I am a wrinkled old man
My son and I quarreled
As I did with my father
He speaks now
I forgave
The circle remains unbroken
I understand.
My grandchildren know the way of my people
I tried to teach them well
They will see what I call home
I will see it through their eyes
I will sit on my hill
I will gaze over my village
The circle survives
They will understand.
Akoo-cheemoya