艾米丽·波琳·约翰逊(Tekahionwake)

在这里你会发现长诗当红种人死去诗人艾米丽·波琳·约翰逊(Tekahionwake)

当红种人死去

俘虏!他这样有地狱吗?比休伦人的嘶嘶声更令人恼火的嘲弄吗?他——傲慢而轻蔑,他——嘲笑法律,他——易洛魁人的后裔,他——嗜血成性,他——莫霍克酋长,他——蔑视痛苦,嘲笑悲伤,在可恶的休伦人的凶恶的手中,连俘虏他都不屑碰!俘虏!Butnever征服;莫霍克人勇敢,不卑躬屈膝,不做任何人的奴隶;至少,对他灵魂所憎恶的小部落,那个在锡姆科海岸散布棚屋的部落。他皱着眉头,昂首挺胸地站着,用傲慢和挑衅的目光注视着他的俘虏,当他们商议他的命运时,或者用他的勇敢来恐吓。然后把选择权丢给他。 "Wilt thou walk o'er the bed of fire that waits thee now-- Walk with uncovered feet upon the coals, Until thou reach the ghostly Land of Souls, And, with thy Mohawk death-song please our ear? Or wilt thou with the women rest thee here?" His eyes flash like an eagle's, and his hands Clench at the insult. Like a god he stands. "Prepare the fire!" he scornfully demands. He knoweth not that this same jeering band Will bite the dust--will lick the Mohawk's hand; Will kneel and cower at the Mohawk's feet; Will shrink when Mohawk war drums wildly beat. HIs death will be avenged with hideous hate By Iroquois, swift to annihilate His vile detested captors, that now flaunt Their war clubs in his face with sneer and taunt, Not thinking, soon that reeeking, red, and raw, Their scalps will deck the belts of Iroquois. The path of coals outstretches, white with heat, A forest fir's length--ready for his feet. Unflinching as a rock he steps along The burning mass, and sings his wild war song; Sings, as he sang when once he used to roam Throughout the forests of his southern home, Where, down the Genesee, the water roars, Where gentle Mohawk purls between its shores, Songs, that of exploit and of prowess tell; Songs of the Iroquois invincible. Up the long trail of fire he boasting goes, Dancing a war dance to defy his foes. His flesh is scorched, his muscles burn and shrink. But still he dances to death's awful brink. The eagle plume that crests his haughty head Will never droop until his heart be dead. Slower and slower yet his footsep swings, Wilder and wilder still his death-song rings, Fiercer and fiercer thro' the forest bounds His voice that leaps to Happier Hunting Grounds. One savage yell-- Then loyal to his race, He bends to death--butnever to disgrace.