Sitting Bull’s “Two Baby Owls”

[Okwes]

Sitting Bull’s “Two Baby Owls”
Posted by: "Bill/Bear Bark" [e-mail] bear_bark

I have had several requests to republish this little
Lakota poem. Here it is with a bit of background.
- - - - - - - -- -

150 years ago Sitting Bull became the father of twins
shortly after leading his people into exile in Canada.
He was so delighted he wrote this poem to celebrate
their arrival.

TWO BABY OWLS

Only-One, Only-One, loved by everyone,
Only-One speaks sweet words to everyone,
So Only-One is loved by everyone.

The little owls, the little owls – even by them!
Only-One, Only-One, loved by everyone,
So Only-One is loved by everyone.
- - - - - - -

Who is Only-One? Certainly Sitting Bull. He was
proud of his poetry, proud that everyone loves him for
his sweet words. I wish I could show what the poem
really sounded like, but I have never seen it in
Lakota.

The two little owls are his new twins. But why does
he call them little owls? That’s a mystery. The
Sioux considered owls enemies – They swoop down and
carry off Indian babies to feed to baby owls.
Probably there is some private joke here.

The poem is very repetitious. But of course! Sioux
poets did not write their poems -- they didn’t write
at all. They sang and danced them. As soon as
Sitting Bull finished a work he would dance through
the camp singing it -- sometimes for the entire night,
often joined by others who picked up the words and
danced and sang with him. Repetition always helps
song-and-dance numbers catch on.

To summarize, these six lines mean “People love me
because I sing to them. Even my new babies love me
when I sing.” Who knows, he may have created this
poem while he was singing the twins to sleep.

Bill

Bill/Bear Bark ([e-mail])