Ohiya (singing vow): Inkpata Nawaze Naci, Naci, coze May Maya Leci cu wana.
Winona: The magic of the night of nights beckons me, beckons me, beckons me; a wonder-world is sheltered ‘neath the trees from grass and shrub and willows low. Come mystic voices, sighs, enchanting breeze from mystic voices, sighs enchanting breeze. The pallid lake lies quiet now beneath your mountain’s somber breast. The moonlight? Branches low but I, but I, my lover comes, he comes to me of night, of night, he comes to me in his serenade. Before the coyotes call as morn or bird awakes its mate dawn while spirits mystic sing their song he come he come come. My love comes I know ’tis he. Ohiya brave, Ohiya brave. I know ’tis he; know that it is he. In the serenade my love comes to sing to me, comes to sing his serenade. I pass into the night world unafraid. He comes to chant, O ecstasy, he comes to chant his serenade. Hark, the voice of my love. Hark, the voice of Ohiya. It is my love (repeat). Hark the voice of my lover.
from Zitkala Ša ‘The Sun Dance Opera’ (1913)
