Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE BAKING OF A MAN, by D. E. WHEELER



Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE BAKING OF A MAN, by                    
First Line: Sun,' said old crow, with thunder scream that
Last Line: Thus man came forth the chosen shade -- a noble, copper red!
Subject(s): Legends; Sun


"Sun," said Old Crow, with thunder scream that echoed to the sky,
"To-day Great Spirit makes his Man,
The masterpiece of all his plan,
And you must give us warmth and light, else newborn Man may die."

"What is this Man?" asked jealous Sun. "What do we need of him?
Great Spirit has made creatures fair
For all the waters, earth, and air.
I will not lend my fires to help along this foolish whim."

Up croaked Wise Raven: "Sun, be still, or the Great Spirit hears
Your wicked words; then will he steep
You in the quenching waters deep,
And change you into clouds and mist and everlasting tears!"

Madly the Sun glowed in his rage upon the smiling plain,
As with his hands Great Spirit scraped
The richest mud, and Chief Man shaped
According to his father wish, bestowing strength and brain.

Noontide, Great Spirit finished; then he smoked his pipe and slept.
So wicked Sun burned black the Man,
Who howled with pain and southward ran.
When Old Crow saw the charred Two-legs, he woke his lord, and wept.

Great Spirit, he was angry, but still loved his beauteous Sun.
Next day again his Man he made
And covered him with leaves, for shade,
That he might not be blackened by the envious Golden One.

Alas, leaves were too thick, and Man turned out a chalky sight,
And Raven and Old Crow were wroth,
And led him to the snowy north.
They wanted Man the proper hue -- one neither black nor white.

Once more Great Spirit molded mud when Black and White were sped.
He did not smoke or sleep or leave,
And watched Man bake from morn till eve.
Thus Man came forth the chosen shade -- a noble, copper red!





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