Everything that is
is alive
on a steep river bank
there's a voice that speaks
I've seen the master of that voice
he bowed to me
I spoke with him
he answers my questions
everything that is
is alive
Little grey bird
little blue breast
sings in a hollow bough
she calls her spirits dances
sings her shaman songs
woodpecker on a tree
that's his drum
he's got a drumming nose
and the tree shakes
cries out like a drum
when the axe bites its side
all these things answer
my call
everything that is
is alive
the lantern walks around the walls of the house have tongues even this bowl has its own true home the hides asleep in thier bags were up talking all night antlers on the graves rise and circle the mounds while the dead themselves get up and go visit the living ones. --- (song of the Chukchee indians)