Anonymous Zuni Tribe

Invocation to the U'wannami

Come, ascend the ladder: all come in: all sit down.
We were poor, poor, poor, poor, poor,
When we came to this world through the poor place,
Where the body of water dried for our passing.
Banked up clouds cover the earth.
All come four times with your showers:
Descend to the base of the ladder and stand still:
Bring your showers and great rains.
All, all come, all ascend, all come in, all sit down.

translated from the Zuni by Matilda Coxe Stevenson in 1905