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A DEAL IN REAL ESTATE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Barendt cuyler, indian trader
Last Line: "brother -- let us dream no more!"
Subject(s): Dreams; Native Americans; New York City - Dutch Period; Smoking; Nightmares; Indians Of America; American Indians; Indians Of South America; Tobacco; Pipes; Cigars; Cigarettes


BARENDT CUYLER, Indian trader,
Shrewd, but honest as the light,
Merry-hearted, wise, and witty,
Loved alike by red and white,

Sat and pondered in the sunshine,
Puffing at his pipe the while,
Where the brawling Spuyten Duyvil
Foams on Mannahatta's Isle.

Arrow-swift, a birchen vessel
Shot across the winding creek;
Up the bank strode Wetamoset,
Sachem of the Weckquaesgeek.

"Hail!" the Dutchman called in greeting.
"Hail!" the crested chief replied,
Gracious as a king in exile.
Pipe to pipe and side by side,

Long they smoked in friendly silence,
Gazing on the rapid stream,
Till the chieftain softly murmured,
"Wetamoset dreamed a dream."

"Tell thy dream." Then quoth the sachem,
Guileless as a babe new-born,
"Wetamoset dreamed his brother
Gave him gun and powder-horn."

Grave and silent, Barendt Cuyler
Sought his cabin's open door,
Filled a horn with large-grained powder,
Chose a musket from his store,

Gave them to the stolid chieftain,
Who, with courteous ado,
Bearing off the light-won plunder
Launched again his light canoe.

Wetamoset, sage and war-chief,
Stood before his lodge at morn;
Dark behind him rose his woodland,
Green before him waved his corn.

Mosholu to Spuyten Duyvil
Poured a rill of liquid light;
Up the slope came Barendt Cuyler,
Loved alike by red and white.

Full and friendly was his welcome,
Long he tarried there, to speak
Pleasant words of kindly counsel
For the folk of Weckquaesgeek.

Then, beneath his eyebrow's shadow
Flashed and danced a mirthful gleam;
Spoke the trader: "Wetamoset,
Barendt Cuyler dreamed a dream."

"Let him tell it." Then the trader:
"Cuyler, sleeping by the lin,
Dreamed that Wetamoset gave him
All of Papparinamin!"

Ruefully the stately sachem
Viewed the province of that dream,
All the pleasant island-meadow
'Twixt the marshland and the stream.

Arm in air, he traced the boundary,
Wooded height and reedy shore:
"All that land is thine, my brother.
Brother -- let us dream no more!"





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