John Whirlwind’s Doublebeat Songs, 1956

1.

Menwi – yakwatoni – beskonewiani.
Kyebakewina – maneniaki
ketekattiki
ebemanemateki
ebemanemateki

                            *

Good-smelling are these flowers.
As it turned out, they were milkweeds
dance-standing
as the wind passes by,
as the wind passes by.

2.

Inike – ekatai – waseyaki
netena – wasesi.
Memettine
beskattenetisono.
Memettine.

                            *

It is now almost daylight,
I said to the firefly.
For the last time
illuminate yourself.
For the last time.