We travel carrying our words.
We arrive at the ocean.
With our words we are able to speak
of the sounds of thunderous waves.
We speak of how majestic it is,
of the ocean power that gifts us songs.
We sing of our respect
and call it our relative.

Translated into English from O’odham by the poet.

’U’a g T-ñi’okı˘

T-ñi’okı˘ ’att ’an o ’u’akc o hihi
Am ka:ck wui dada.
S-ap ‘am o ’a: mo has ma:s g kiod.
mat ’am ’ed.a betank ’i-gei.
’Am o ’a: mo he’es ’i-ge’ej,
mo hascu wud.  i:da gewkdagaj
mac ’ab amjed.  behě g ñe’i.
Hemhoa s-ap ‘am o ’a: mac si has elid, mo d.  ’i:mig.

A few days more, and then

There’ll be no secret glen,

Or hollow, deep and dim,

To hide or shelter him.

And on the prairie far,

Beneath the beacon star

On evening’s dark’ning shore,

I’ll hear him nevermore.

For where the tepee smoke

Curled up of yore, the stroke

Of hammers rings all day,

And grim Doom shouts, “Make way!”

The immemorial hush

Is broken by the rush

Of armed enemies

Unto the utmost seas.