Nushhùkòwën Ta Ni

I Am An Icicle . . . Told by Annie Brown Parks in 1971

English:

Introduction by Bruce Pearson

Lenape:

Introduction by Bruce Pearson

English:

It was said that a young woman was eating icicles.

Lenape:

Hùnte wa skixkwe nushhùkòna tòlëmi mamhòn.

English:

Not long after she ate them she suddenly got pregnant

Lenape:

Mètxàki èt ta mamhòt nèl nushhùkòna wixkòchi sàkwilìsin.

English:

Then when her baby was born he grew very quickly.

Lenape:

Na ènta ahpit na mimëntët na shihkànch kshiku.

English:

At that time they did not clothe the children, and he was exposed.

Lenape:

Eli nìki lìkhìkwi ku hèmpsakwi mimëns,

English:

he was exposed. When the other children

Lenape:

màmhìchihële. Na yu[ki] takokik mimëntëtàk

English:

when they touched him they almost

Lenape:

ènta ika lënahtit na hùnt na kahti

English:

froze their hands because that child was really an icicle.

Lenape:

chakahtën unàxkëwoo èli nushhùkòwën na mimëntët.

English:

He told them, "You people should put ashes on me, it will be all right.

Lenape:

Tëlan hùnk hùnt, "Punkw a ikahataoneyo, xu mayayihële.

English:

They did so, they put ashes on him.

Lenape:

Na hùnkw ta punkw ikahataoneyo.

English:

Then suddenly the time had arrived for

Lenape:

Na wixkaochi mèchi ta mahtèxink tìli

English:

this icicle to float away.

Lenape:

alëmipukwën wàni nushhùkòwën.

English:

He said, "I am really not a Lenape, I am an icicle.

Lenape:

Luwe hùnt, "Aku ta ni Lënape, nushhùkòwën ta ni.

English:

Take me to the creek and put some corn meal

Lenape:

Kènu ikàch ktëluxòlihëmo sipunk, kohomokàn

English:

where you seat me."

Lenape:

èlhukwèpia ktatuneyo."

English:

Then they did that. He told his mother,

Lenape:

Na hùnt nëni tënëmëneyo. Tëlao hùnt nèl kohèsa

English:

"Don't have hard thoughts about this."

Lenape:

"Matàch ta ahi kèku liteha."

English:

But, anyway it is said the woman

Lenape:

Amënchi hànta hùnt na xkwe

English:

followed her child a little way as he floated away.

Lenape:

kèxiti nòolao nèl wënichana alëmipukw.

English:

Or rather, before he floated away he said,

Lenape:

Na hùnt shëmuch nèsko alëmipukw. Tëlan hùnt èt,

English:

"If anyone wants to go across the stream [on the ice]

Lenape:

"Xu awèn kahta òsixkanai e

English:

he must put some corn meal on the ice

Lenape:

kohomokàn kënch ta taonìch mèchi alëmipukwën nushhùkòwën

English:

he must put some corn meal on the ice

Lenape:

në kohomokàn ikahatakwën na nushhùkòwënink

English:

before he can cross or the ice will stop him

Lenape:

kàski xkohke awèn nahkihële ne nushhùkòwën,

English:

If anyone wants to cross [who doesn't do this]

Lenape:

shùk lëni awèn kahta xkohke

English:

he will not be able to cross, but will fall through the ice and float away when he gets to the middle.

Lenape:

ta kàski xkohke alëmipukw hànkw na nushhùkòwën mèchi ènta lai pat

English:

That now is it.

Lenape:

Nata yukwe në shè.

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