Joyful was the heart of Panther,
Proud and joyful was the mother. 
All the days were full of sunshine,
All the nights were full of starlight. 
Nightly from the land of spirits
On them smiled the starry faces—­
Faces of their friends departed. 
Little moccasins she made him,
Feathered cap and belt of wampum;
From the hide of fawn a blanket,
Fringed with feathers, soft as sable;
Singing at her pleasant labor,
By her side the tekenagun, [6]
And the little hunter in it,
Oft the Panther smiled and fondled,
Smiled upon the babe and mother,
Frolicked with the boy and fondled,
Tall he grew and like his father,
And they called the boy the Raven—­
Called him Kak-kah-ge—­the Raven. 
Happy hunter was the Panther. 
From the woods he brought the pheasant,
Brought the red deer and the rabbit,
Brought the trout from Gitchee Gumee—­
Brought the mallard from the marshes—­
Royal feast for boy and mother: 
Brought the hides of fox and beaver,
Brought the skins of mink and otter,
Lured the loon and took his blanket,
Took his blanket for the Raven. 
Winter swiftly followed winter,
And again the tekenagun
Held a babe—­a tawny daughter,
Held a dark-eyed, dimpled daughter;
And they called her Waub-omee-mee
Thus they named her—­the White-Pigeon. 
But as winter followed winter
Cold and sullen grew the Panther;
Sat and smoked his pipe in silence;
When he spoke he spoke in anger;
In the forest often tarried
Many days, and homeward turning,
Brought no game unto his wigwam;
Only brought his empty quiver,
Brought his dark and sullen visage.

Sad at heart and very lonely
Sat the Sea-Gull in the wigwam;
Sat and swung the tekenagun
Sat and sang to Waub-omee-mee: 
Thus she sang to Waub-omee-mee,
Thus the lullaby she chanted: 

    Wa-wa, wa-wa, wa-we-yea;
    Kah-ween, nee-zheka ke-diaus-ai,
    Ke-gah nau-wai, ne-me-go s’ween,
    Ne-baun, ne-baun, ne-daun-is ais,
    Wa-wa, wa-wa, wa-we-yea;
    Ne-baun, ne-baun, ne-daun-is-ais,
    E-we wa-wa, wa-we-yea,
    E-we wa-wa, wa-we-yea.

    TRANSLATION

    Swing, swing, little one, lullaby;
    Thou’rt not left alone to weep;
    Mother cares for you—­she is nigh;
    Sleep, my little one, sweetly sleep;
    Swing, swing, little one, lullaby;
    Mother watches you—­she is nigh;
    Gently, gently, wee one, swing;
    Gently, gently, while I sing
    E-we wa-wa—­lullaby,
    E-we wa-wa—­lullaby.

Homeward to his lodge returning
Kindly greeting found the hunter,
Fire to warm and food to nourish,
Golden trout from Gitchee Gumee,
Caught by Kah-kah-ge—­the Raven. 
With a snare he caught the rabbit—­
Caught Wabose,[7] the furry-footed,
Caught Penay,[7] the forest-drummer;
Sometimes with his bow and arrows,