The Nursery / ᏗᎦᏘᏗᏍᏗ-ᏗᏂᏲᏟ

In the nursery there are birds
and butterflies,
animals of every kind,
and a big box of toys.
We can be happy,
girls and boys,
if we survive
the nursery.

We shall live long lives
if the nursery
survives us.

ᏗᎦᏘᏗᏍᏗ-ᏗᏂᏲᏟ ᎭᏫᎾ
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᏥᏍᏆᏗ ᎠᎴ ᎧᎹᎹᏗ,
ᏂᎦᏛ ᎤᏍᏗ ᎦᎾᏝᎢᏗ,
ᎠᎴ ᎡᏆ ᎧᏁᏌᎢ ᏗᏁᎸᏙᏗ.
ᎢᏧᎳ ᏰᎵᏆᏎ ᎨᏒᎢ ᎠᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ,
ᎠᎨᏳᏣᏗ ᎠᎴ ᎠᏧᏣᏗ,
ᎢᏳᏃ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎬᎵᏱᎵᏐᏎ-ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎢ
ᏗᎦᏘᏗᏍᏗ-ᏗᏂᏲᏟ ᎤᎶᏐᏅ.

ᎢᏧᎳ ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎣᏎ ᎦᏅᎯᏓ ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲᏗᏁ
ᎢᏳᏃ ᏗᎦᏘᏗᏍᏗ-ᏗᏂᏲᏟ
ᎬᎵᏱᎵᏐᏎ-ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎢ
ᎢᏧᎸ ᎤᎶᏐᏅ.

Text © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

The Range of Light / ᎠᏍᏓᏅᏅ ᎤᎸᏌᏓ ᎥᎿᎢ

The range of light
is the range of night,
from sleep
to lucid clarity.
From those extremes
is born the way
that leads us to
another day.

ᎠᏍᏓᏅᏅ ᎤᎸᏌᏓ ᎥᎿᎢ
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏍᏓᏅᏅ ᏑᏃᏱ ᎥᎿᎢ,
ᎦᎸᏙ ᏂᏛᎴᏅᏓ
ᏧᎸᏌᏓ ᏧᎸᏌᏙ ᏗᏜ.
ᎾᏍᎩ ᎦᎶᏒᏍᏔᏃᏗ ᏂᏛᎴᏅᏓ
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎤᏕᏂᏔ ᏅᏃᎯ
Ꮎ ᏓᏘᎾᏎ ᎢᏧᎸ
ᏄᏓᎴ ᎢᎦ ᏗᏜ.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler

Happy Birthday, My Friend / ᎠᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ ᎤᏕᏘᏱᏍᎬ, ᎠᏆ ᎤᎾᎵ

Happy birthday, my friend.

I knew you before you were twenty,
and now you would be seventy-three.

I missed
the best part,
and so did you.

I will look for you
in the Summerland.

 ᎠᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ ᎤᏕᏘᏱᏍᎬ, ᎠᏆ ᎤᎾᎵ.

ᎠᏯ ᎤᏅᏘᏎ ᏂᎯᏁ ᎤᏓᎷᎸ ᏂᎯ
ᎤᎯᏎ ᏔᎳᏍᎪᎯ ᏧᏕᏘᏴᏓ,
ᎠᎴ ᏃᏊ ᏂᎯ ᎤᎱᏎ
ᎦᎵᏆᏍᎪᎯ-ᏦᎢ.

ᎠᏯ ᎦᏅᏗᎢᏎ ᎣᎯᏍᏗ ᎢᎦᏛᏁ,
ᎠᎴ ᏂᎯ ᎦᏅᏗᎢᏎ ᎾᏍᏋ.

ᎠᏯ ᎠᏯᏍᏙᏎ ᏂᎯᏁ
ᎪᎩ-ᎡᎶᎯ ᎭᏫᎾ.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler

ᎢᏳᏃ ᎠᏯ Ꮭ ᏰᎵᏆᏎ / If I Can't

ᎢᏳᏃ ᎠᏯ Ꮭ ᏰᎵᏆᏎ
ᎯᏁᎩ ᎾᏍᎩᏁ ᎤᏚᎩ
ᎦᏬᏂᎯᏍᎩ ᎭᏫᎾ,
ᎠᏎᏱᎩ ᎠᏯ Ꮭ ᎤᏚᎳᏓᏎ
ᎯᏁᎩ ᎾᏍᎩᏁ.

If I can't
say it in the
Udugi language,
maybe I don't
need to say it.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

ᎢᏳᏃ ᎠᏯ Ꮭ ᏰᎵᏆᏎ

ᎢᏳᏃ ᎠᏯ Ꮭ ᏰᎵᏆᏎ
ᎯᏁᎩ ᎾᏍᎩᏁ ᎤᏚᎩ
ᎦᏬᏂᎯᏍᎩ ᎭᏫᎾ,
ᎠᏎᏱᎩ ᎠᏯ Ꮭ ᎤᏚᎳᏓᏎ
ᎯᏁᎩ ᎾᏍᎩᏁ.

I Have Gone Native, I Suppose / ᎠᏯ ᏗᏙᎳᎩᏎ ᏁᏰᎯᏯ, ᎠᏯ ᎢᏰᎵᏍᏓᏎ

I have gone native, I suppose:
I would prefer to live naked
in the forest, with the Tlánuwa*
for my company,
and not in the unfair thing
that clothes have built,
a cage of hypocrisies
and lies.

Is it too late
to open the door
and escape?

*Tlánuwa is a giant, mythical bird, in some ways similar to the Garuda of South Asia.


ᎠᏯ ᏗᏙᎳᎩᏎ ᏁᏰᎯᏯ,
ᎠᏯ ᎢᏰᎵᏍᏓᏎ:
ᎠᏯ ᎤᏟᎬᏰᎸᏚᏎ
ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎢ ᎤᏰᎸᎭ ᎢᎾᎨᎢ ᎭᏫᎾ,
ᏝᏄᏩ ᎬᏙᏗ ᎤᎾᎵ ᎾᏍᎩᎭᎢ,
ᎠᎴ Ꮭ ᎯᎠ ᏂᏚᏳᎪᏛᎾ
ᎢᏳᏍᏗ ᎭᏫᎾ,
Ꮎ ᏗᏄᏬ ᎠᏁᏍᎬᏗᏎ,
ᏗᏓᏍᏚᏗ ᎤᏠᎾᏍᏙᏗ ᎠᎴ
ᎦᏰᎪᎩᏗ ᎥᎿᎢ.

ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎤᏴᏍᏗ ᎣᏂᏱᏳ
ᎠᏍᏚᎢᏗ ᎠᏍᏚᎵᏁ
ᎠᎴ ᎠᎵᏘᎢ?

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler

ᎠᎦᏴᎵ ᎠᏍᎦᏯ ᏚᎸᏫᏍᏓᎾᏎ / The Old Man Is Working

ᎠᎦᏴᎵ ᎠᏍᎦᏯ ᏚᎸᏫᏍᏓᎾᏎ
ᎤᏤᎵ ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏒ-ᎠᏍᏆᎪᏗᏍᎩ
ᎾᎿᎢ, ᎤᏰᎸᎭ
ᎪᎩ ᎤᏗᎴᎦ ᎭᏫᎾ.

ᏙᏰᎯ, ᎠᎦᏍᎬ ᎠᎴ ᎠᎾᎦᎵᏍᎬ
ᎠᎴᏫᏍᏙᏗᏎ.

ᎠᏨᏯᎢ ᎠᏓᏛᏙᏓᏎ ᎤᏩᏒ-ᎠᏍᎦᏯ
ᎢᏳᏃ ᎾᏂᎥᏉ ᎠᏛᎦᏎ
ᎤᏤᎵ ᎧᏁᎢᏍᏗᏗᏁ.

ᎠᏨᏯᎢ ᎠᏓᏛᏙᏓᏎ ᎤᏩᏒ-ᎠᏍᎦᏯ
ᎢᏳᏃ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᏰᎵᏊ ᎢᎪᎯᏓ.

ᎩᎵ ᎠᏚᎳᏓᏎ ᎠᎢᏒᏁ.

Ꮎ ᎧᏁᏍᏗ-ᎢᏯᏛᏁᏙᏎ
ᏗᏄᏬᏁ.


The old man is working
at his computer,
naked in the summer heat.

Outside, the rain and lightning
have stopped.

He wonders whether anyone
hears his words.

He wonders whether
there will be enough time.

The dog wants a walk.

That will require
clothes.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler

This Is One World

This is one world.
We will sink or swim,
live or die,
together.
Any other story
is a lie.

ᎯᎠ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᏌᏊ ᎡᏆ-ᎡᎶᎯ.
ᎢᏧᎳ ᎡᎳᏗ ᎢᎦᎵᏍᏙᏙᏎ
ᎠᎴ ᎠᏓᏬᏍᏙᏎ,
ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎣᏎ ᎠᎴ ᎠᏲᎱᎯᏍᏙᏎ,
ᎢᏧᎴ.
ᏂᎦ ᏐᎢ ᎧᏃᎮᎸᏍᎩ
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎦᏰᎪᎩ.

Text © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

Tonight, as we are on the cusp of having received 54,000 visits to this poetry blog, there are a few things that I would like to share with you. The easy part is this: as you may have noticed, the Udugi language is becoming an inseparable part of my poetry. The same is true of my photography. Both are part of a multimedia product that is a reflection of myself. I didn't really plan it that way, but it is that way, and I think it will continue. I hope you like it, and I thank you all for your interest and encouragement.

Now for the hard part.

Tonight I was reading about a heroine of the uprising of the Warsaw Ghetto, along with various other stories of the Holocaust. It is a history that is not dead, but lives with us and haunts us. I read until the pain and horror were too much for me to take, and I had to turn away from it.

Which poet was it who wrote about "man's inhumanity to man?" Wordsworth, I think. But what was true in his time, in the early nineteenth century, was magnified in the early twentieth century, and it is absolutely no less true now. It raises many questions. We must ask them, and we must answer them.

What is our response to the evil that we see all around us? How will we confront it? Because we must. Otherwise, as MLK told us, we begin to die.

Let us defend, not only ourselves, but all of our sisters and brothers. In doing that, win or lose, we will save ourselves. Let us, then, be heroes.

Shalom Salaam Paz Pax Peace.

Text © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler. Photo: Fergus McCarthy

We Can Talk

We can talk
to anybody
in the world.
But do we have
something to say?

ᎢᏧᎳ ᏰᎵᏆᏎ ᎦᏬᏂᏍᎩ
ᎾᏂᎥᏉ ᏗᏜ
ᎡᏆ-ᎡᎶᎯ ᎭᏫᎾ.
ᎠᏎᏃ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎤᎭᏎ
ᎪᎱᏍᏗᏁ ᎯᏁᎩ?

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler

There Is Nature

There is nature,
pliable and true,
with million-year history,
and there are
hard-edged machines,
with no history at all.
Which world
will we choose
to live in?

ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎬᏩᎣ,
ᎠᎯᏛᎤᏬᎯᏳᏗ ᎠᎴ ᎤᏙᎯᏳ,
ᎢᏳᏆᏗᏅᏓ-ᏧᏕᏘᏴᏓ ᎧᏃᎮᏍᎩ ᎬᏙᏗ,
ᎠᎴ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏍᏓᏯ-ᎠᏍᏛᎢᏔ ᎪᏢᏅᏙᏗᏗ,
ᎠᎧᎵᏬᎯ ᎧᏃᎮᏍᎩ ᏄᏠᏯᏍᏛᎾ.
ᎦᏙ-ᎤᏍᏗ ᎡᏆ-ᎡᎶᎯ ᎭᏫᎾ
ᎢᏧᎳ ᎠᏑᏰᏍᏙᏎ ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎢ?

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

Naked Wisdom 57

ᎠᏑᏴᏗ ᎤᏓᏔᏅᎯ ᎥᎿᎢ
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏲᎯᏍᏗ ᏥᏍᏆᏁ
Ꮎ ᎠᏰᏍᏛᏙᏎ ᎤᎦᏔᏁ.

ᎤᏬᏚ ᎠᎨᏯ ᎠᎴ ᎠᏍᎦᏯ ᎥᎿᎢ
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏰᏍᏛᏗ ᎤᎦᏔᏁ
ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲ ᎥᎿᎢ.

ᎯᎠ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎤᏬᏚ-ᏅᏃᎯ
ᎡᏆ-ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᎥᎿᎢ.


The flavor of the berry
is to bring the bird
that will spread the seed.

The beauty of woman and
man is to spread the seed
of life.

This is the beauty way
of the Great Spirit.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

ᎤᏰᎸᎭ ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏍᏗ 57

ᎠᏑᏴᏗ ᎤᏓᏔᏅᎯ ᎥᎿᎢ
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏲᎯᏍᏗ ᏥᏍᏆᏁ
Ꮎ ᎠᏰᏍᏛᏙᏎ ᎤᎦᏔᏁ.

ᎤᏬᏚ ᎠᎨᏯ ᎠᎴ ᎠᏍᎦᏯ ᎥᎿᎢ
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏰᏍᏛᏗ ᎤᎦᏔᏁ
ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲ ᎥᎿᎢ.

ᎯᎠ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎤᏬᏚ-ᏅᏃᎯ
ᎡᏆ-ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᎥᎿᎢ.

It Will, One Day

It will, one day,
be my time to go.
Shall I then be
more than a memory?
And who is the "I"
that wants to know?

ᎨᏒᎣᏎ, ᏌᏊ ᎢᎦ,
ᎨᏒᎢ ᎠᏆ ᎢᎪᎯᏓ ᎠᎾᎩᏍᏗ.
ᎠᏯ ᏀᎢᏳᎢ ᎨᏒᎣᏎ
ᎤᎪᏕᏍᏗ ᏏᏅ ᎠᏅᏓᏗᏍᏗ?
ᎠᎴ ᎦᎪ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎯᎠ "ᎠᏯ"
Ꮎ ᎠᏚᎳᏓᏎ ᎤᏅᏘ?

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler

Naked Wisdom 56

ᎢᏧᎳ ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎠᏎ ᎠᏍᎩᏘᏍᎦ ᎭᏫᎾ,
ᎠᏎᏃ ᎯᎠ ᎠᏍᎩᏘᏍᎦ ᏰᎵᏆᏎ ᏗᏕᏲᏗ
ᎢᏧᎸ ᎤᎪᏗ, ᎢᎬᏂᏏᏍᎩ
ᏅᎳᏎ ᎡᏆ-ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᏂᏛᎴᏅᏓ.

We are living in a dream,
but this dream can teach
us much, because
it comes from the Great Spirit.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

ᎤᏰᎸᎭ ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏍᏗ 56

ᎢᏧᎳ ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎠᏎ ᎠᏍᎩᏘᏍᎦ ᎭᏫᎾ,
ᎠᏎᏃ ᎯᎠ ᎠᏍᎩᏘᏍᎦ ᏰᎵᏆᏎ ᏗᏕᏲᏗ
ᎢᏧᎸ ᎤᎪᏗ, ᎢᎬᏂᏏᏍᎩ
ᏅᎳᏎ ᎡᏆ-ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᏂᏛᎴᏅᏓ.

Naked Wisdom 55

ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏆᏤᎵ ᏗᎵᎪᏔᏅᎯ ᎬᏩᎣ ᏗᏜ
Ꮎ ᏄᎵᏂᎬᎩᎦᏎ ᎢᏧᎸ
ᎠᎴ ᎠᏓᏁᏓᏎ ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲᏁ ᎢᏧᎸ ᏗᏜ,
Ꮎ ᎠᏓᏕᎳᏍᏓᏎ ᎢᏧᎸ.
ᎢᏳᏃ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎠᏥᏍᏕᎳᏎ ᎬᏩᎣᏁ,
ᎢᏧᎳ ᎾᏍᏋ ᎠᏥᏍᏕᎳᏎ ᎣᎬᏌᏁ.

It is our connection to nature
that makes us strong
and gives us life,
that nourishes us.
When we defend nature,
we are also defending ourselves.

Text © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

ᎤᏰᎸᎭ ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏍᏗ 55

ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏆᏤᎵ ᏗᎵᎪᏔᏅᎯ ᎬᏩᎣ ᏗᏜ
Ꮎ ᏄᎵᏂᎬᎩᎦᏎ ᎢᏧᎸ
ᎠᎴ ᎠᏓᏁᏓᏎ ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲᏁ ᎢᏧᎸ ᏗᏜ,
Ꮎ ᎠᏓᏕᎳᏍᏓᏎ ᎢᏧᎸ.
ᎢᏳᏃ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎠᏥᏍᏕᎳᏎ ᎬᏩᎣᏁ,
ᎢᏧᎳ ᎾᏍᏋ ᎠᏥᏍᏕᎳᏎ ᎣᎬᏌᏁ.

Naked Wisdom 54

ᎤᏩᎫᏗᏗᏒ Ꮭ ᎨᏒᎣᏎ
ᎤᏠᏱ ᏧᏩᎫᏔᏅᏒ.
ᎢᏧᎳ Ꮭ ᏰᎵᏆᏎ ᎪᏩᏘ ᎾᏍᎩᏁ ᎩᎳ,
ᎠᏎᏃ ᎠᏆᏤᎵ ᏗᏂᏲᏟ ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎣᏎ
ᎠᏎᎩ ᎡᏆ-ᎡᎶᎯ ᎭᏫᎾ.

The future will not be
the same as the past.
We cannot see it yet,
but our children will live
in a strange, new world.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

ᎤᏰᎸᎭ ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏍᏗ 54

ᎤᏩᎫᏗᏗᏒ Ꮭ ᎨᏒᎣᏎ
ᎤᏠᏱ ᏧᏩᎫᏔᏅᏒ.
ᎢᏧᎳ Ꮭ ᏰᎵᏆᏎ ᎪᏩᏘ ᎾᏍᎩᏁ ᎩᎳ,
ᎠᏎᏃ ᎠᏆᏤᎵ ᏗᏂᏲᏟ ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎣᏎ
ᎠᏎᎩ ᎡᏆ-ᎡᎶᎯ ᎭᏫᎾ.

Washed by Venus's Light

Washed by Venus's light,
with Jupiter close by,
in the final hour of night,
my hopes are very high.

Storm and Burnt Biscuits

The ocean is all whitecaps,
the wind is howling,
the beach is all foam.
Tonight, Nature will strut and storm
and tomorrow She'll bake us a biscuit.

She is stronger than we
who, like unwitting children,
have added fuel
to her mighty fire.

Mom's biscuits will burn,
and we,
will we ever learn?

Will we ever learn?

Naked Wisdom 53

ᏂᎦᏛ ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲ ᏅᎵᏎ ᎠᎺᏉᎯ ᏂᏛᎴᏅᏓ.
ᎢᏧᎳ ᎾᏍᏋ ᏅᎵᏎ ᎾᎿ ᏂᏛᎴᏅᏓ,
ᎠᎴ ᎠᏆᏤᎵ ᎩᎬ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎩᏂᏠᏱ Ꭰ'ᎹᎯ ᎠᎹ',
ᎩᎦᎨ ᏗᎧᏃᏗ ᎬᏙᏗ.

All life came from the ocean.
We, too, came from there,
and our blood is like
saltwater,
with red color.

ᎤᏰᎸᎭ ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏍᏗ 53

ᏂᎦᏛ ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲ ᏅᎵᏎ ᎠᎺᏉᎯ ᏂᏛᎴᏅᏓ.
ᎢᏧᎳ ᎾᏍᏋ ᏅᎵᏎ ᎾᎿ ᏂᏛᎴᏅᏓ,
ᎠᎴ ᎠᏆᏤᎵ ᎩᎬ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎩᏂᏠᏱ Ꭰ'ᎹᎯ ᎠᎹ',
ᎩᎦᎨ ᏗᎧᏃᏗ ᎬᏙᏗ.

Udugi / Hope

"The medium is the message,"
Marshall said.
The meaning is in the saving
of something not yet dead,
to live again and flourish,
though it be only in part.
It is the service that the head
must render to the heart.

ᎾᏍᎩ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎾᏛᏁᎸ Ꮎ ᎠᏍᎪᎵ
ᎠᏎ ᎠᏓᏁᏗ ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᏗᏜ.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

Naked Wisdom 52

ᎢᏳᏃ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎬᎨᏫᏍᏓᏎ
Ꮎ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎢᎦᏛ ᎬᏩᎣ ᎥᎿᎢ,
ᎢᏧᎳ ᎡᏍᎦ-ᎢᎬᏁᎭᏎ ᎬᏩᎣᏁ,
ᎠᎴ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎡᏍᎦ-ᎢᎬᏁᎭᏎ ᎣᎬᏌᏁ.

If we forget that
we are part of nature,
we harm nature,
and we harm ourselves.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler

ᎤᏰᎸᎭ ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏍᏗ 52

ᎢᏳᏃ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎬᎨᏫᏍᏓᏎ
Ꮎ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎢᎦᏛ ᎬᏩᎣ ᎥᎿᎢ,
ᎢᏧᎳ ᎡᏍᎦ-ᎢᎬᏁᎭᏎ ᎬᏩᎣᏁ,
ᎠᎴ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎡᏍᎦ-ᎢᎬᏁᎭᏎ ᎣᎬᏌᏁ.

Sea-foam

The beach is spread with sea-foam,
iridescent harbinger
of the coming storm.
At the waning of the light,
in the darkness of the night,
the storm will steal our sand,
and leave us
dinosaur bones.

 
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler

I Am

I am a product of
your consciousness
and mine,
living in galactic
depths of time,
unfazed by space,
at the heart
of the matter.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

Good morning and ᎣᏍᏛ ᏑᎾᎴᎢ! I'm pleased to announce that this poetry blog has now had a total of 53,000 visits since it was started in October 2016. We are currently adding a thousand visits every eleven days, which is 27% faster than when we started. I believe the quality of both the poetry and the illustrations has improved. Another thing that has helped is the Udugi language, which generates a lot of interest, far more than I ever thought it would.

It seems to me that I have found my voice as a poet, a voice that often includes the enforced austerity of a partially indigenous language. I seem to sense a bright future for this work, and a brighter future for us all.

I thank all of you for the support that your interest and enthusiasm provide. ᏩᏙ!

Naked Wisdom 51

Ꮭ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᏧᏓᎴᏂᏦ ᎠᏰᎵ ᎬᏩᎣ ᎠᎴ ᎡᏆ-ᎠᏓᏅᏙ.

There is no separation between nature and the Great Spirit.

ᎤᏰᎸᎭ ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏍᏗ 51

tla gesvase tsudalenitso ayeli gvwao ale equa-adanvdo.

Naked Wisdom 50

ᎬᏩᎣ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎢᎦᏛ
ᎡᏆ-ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᎥᎿᎢ,
ᎠᎴ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎢᎦᏛ
ᎬᏩᎣ ᎥᎿᎢ.
ᎯᎠ ᎡᏆ-ᎡᎶᎯ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ
ᎢᎦᏪᏛ ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᎥᎿᎢ.

Nature is part
of the Great Spirit,
and we are part
of nature.
This world is
an expression of Spirit.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler

ᎤᏰᎸᎭ ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏍᏗ 50

ᎬᏩᎣ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎢᎦᏛ
ᎡᏆ-ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᎥᎿᎢ,
ᎠᎴ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎢᎦᏛ
ᎬᏩᎣ ᎥᎿᎢ.
ᎯᎠ ᎡᏆ-ᎡᎶᎯ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ
ᎢᎦᏪᏛ ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᎥᎿᎢ.

I Am Me / ᎠᏯ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏴ

I am me,
but I am also thee,
and we
can only be
free.

ᎠᏯ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏴ,
ᎠᏎᏃ ᎠᏯ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎾᏍᏋ ᏂᎯ,
ᎠᎴ ᎢᏧᎳ
ᎤᏩᏌ ᏰᎵᏆᏎ ᎨᏒᎢ
ᎠᏚᏓᎴᏍᏓ.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler

Neither Time Nor Space

Neither time nor space,
nor any cosmic thing,
can stop a mother's love,
or keep her from her child.
It is good to have been,
in extremis,
the recipient
of such love.

She did not see
through the illusion,
but she
saw me.

Piercing the Veil

With little jabs of my pen,
I pierce the veil of illusion.
I could be killed for that.

ᎤᏍᏗ jᎠᏇᏗ ᎠᏆ ᏗᎪᏪᎶᏗ ᎬᏙᏗ,
ᎠᏯ ᎠᏔᎴᏍᏓᏎ ᎠᏯᏙᎳᏛᏗᏁ ᎠᎪᏩᏛᏗ ᎥᎿᎢ.
ᎠᏯ ᏰᎵᏊᏎ ᎨᏒᎢ ᎠᏓᎯᏍᏗᏔ Ꮎ ᎢᎬᏂᏏᏍᎩ.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

What Spectral Image

What spectral image,
shadow-born,
captures the light
and makes it its own,
as if reclaiming a heritage,
an inalienable right?

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

Naked Wisdom 49

ᎢᏳᏃ ᏂᎯ ᏚᏄᏩᏎ ᎤᏩᏌ ᏰᎵᏊ
ᏗᏄᏬᏁ ᎠᏥᏄᎪᏩᏍᏗ ᎤᏴᏠᏁ,
ᎠᎴ ᎯᎦ ᎤᏩᏌ ᏰᎵᏊ ᎠᎵᏍᏓᏴᏗᏁ
ᎠᏥᏄᎪᏩᏍᏗ ᎠᎪᎾᏁ,
ᏂᎯ ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎣᏎ ᎦᏅᎯᏓ
ᎠᎴ ᎠᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ.

If you wear only enough
clothes to banish the cold,
and eat only enough food
to banish hunger,
you will live long
and happy.

ᏅᏓ ᏘᏲᎭᎵ

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

ᎤᏰᎸᎭ ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏍᏗ 49

ᎢᏳᏃ ᏂᎯ ᏚᏄᏩᏎ ᎤᏩᏌ ᏰᎵᏊ
ᏗᏄᏬᏁ ᎠᏥᏄᎪᏩᏍᏗ ᎤᏴᏠᏁ,
ᎠᎴ ᎯᎦ ᎤᏩᏌ ᏰᎵᏊ ᎠᎵᏍᏓᏴᏗᏁ
ᎠᏥᏄᎪᏩᏍᏗ ᎠᎪᎾᏁ,
ᏂᎯ ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎣᏎ ᎦᏅᎯᏓ
ᎠᎴ ᎠᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ.

Naked Wisdom 48

ᎠᏎ ᎨᏒᎢ ᎠᏰᎵ ᎦᎶᎯᏍᏗ, ᎠᏰᎵ ᎧᏃᎮᎸᎯ ᎠᎴ ᏧᎾᏍᏗ, ᎠᏠᏯᏍᏗᏍᎩ ᎤᏲᎲᏎᎸ ᎦᏬᏂᎯᏍᎩ ᎥᎿᎢ. ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎤᏟ-ᎢᏲᏍᏛ ᎠᏓᏍᏕᎸᏗ Ꮎ ᎢᏧᎳ ᏰᎵᏆᏎ ᏏᏅ ᎠᏲᎱᏎᏗ ᎢᎬᏩᏓᎴᎩᏁ.

There must be a middle way between tradition and change, including loss of language. It is better to save what we can than to lose it all.

He Lurks in the Shadows

He lurks in the shadows
at the edge of reality,
as if entering
from another
stage.
He is unknown
and unrecognized,
and only disguised
by a hat.
His spectral shape
moves through the night,
and thrives
in a waning light,
until he vanishes
just like
that!

Ask him your answers,
for questions he would tell,
like a rosary's
shining beads.


Donald Jacobson Traxler

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler

ᎤᏰᎸᎭ ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏍᏗ 48

ᎠᏎ ᎨᏒᎢ ᎠᏰᎵ ᎦᎶᎯᏍᏗ, ᎠᏰᎵ ᎧᏃᎮᎸᎯ ᎠᎴ ᏧᎾᏍᏗ, ᎠᏠᏯᏍᏗᏍᎩ ᎤᏲᎲᏎᎸ ᎦᏬᏂᎯᏍᎩ ᎥᎿᎢ. ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎤᏟ-ᎢᏲᏍᏛ ᎠᏓᏍᏕᎸᏗ Ꮎ ᎢᏧᎳ ᏰᎵᏆᏎ ᏏᏅ ᎠᏲᎱᏎᏗ ᎢᎬᏩᏓᎴᎩᏁ.

The Desire Body

The desire body
is also the illusion
body, a collection
of atoms,
mostly space,
held together
by the bedrock
of divinity.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

Naked Wisdom 47 (translation)

ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏍᏗᎯᏗ ᎧᏃᎮᏓᏎ ᎢᏧᎸ ᏗᏜ Ꮎ ᏂᎦᏛ ᎩᎵᏗ ᏅᎵᏎ ᏩᏯᏗ ᏂᏛᎴᏅᏓ. ᎢᏳᏃ ᏂᎯ ᎠᏚᎳᏓᏎ ᎤᏅᏘ ᎬᏩᎣᏁ ᎩᎵ ᎥᎿᎢ, ᎠᎦᏎᏍᏙᏚ ᏩᏯᏗᏁ.

ᎾᏍᎩᏛ ᎧᏃᎮᏓᏎ ᎢᏧᎸ Ꮎ ᏂᎦᏛ ᏴᏫ ᏅᎵᏎ ᏈᎩᎻ* ᏴᏫ ᏂᏛᎴᏅᏓ. ᎢᏳᏃ ᏂᎯ ᎠᏚᎳᏓᏎ ᎤᏅᏘ ᎬᏩᎣᏁ ᏴᏫ ᎥᎿᎢ, ᎠᎦᏎᏍᏙᏚ ᏈᎩᎻ ᏴᏫᏁ.

*ᎤᏍᏗ, ᎤᎳᏏᎩ, ᎤᏰᎸᎭ ᏴᏫ Ꮎ ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎠᏎ ᎢᎾᎨᎢ ᎭᏫᎾ


Scientists tell us that all dogs have come from wolves. If you want to know the nature of the dog, study wolves.

They tell us that all people have come from the Pygmy* people. If you want to know the nature of people, study the Pygmy people.

*Small, dark, naked people that live in the forest. [Note that monolingual Cherokee speakers are unable to pronounce "p" and "b," sounds that do not occur in Cherokee (or Udugi, for that matter). They normally substitute "q"].

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

ᎤᏰᎸᎭ ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏍᏗ 47

ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏍᏗᎯᏗ ᎧᏃᎮᏓᏎ ᎢᏧᎸ ᏗᏜ Ꮎ ᏂᎦᏛ ᎩᎵᏗ ᏅᎵᏎ ᏩᏯᏗ ᏂᏛᎴᏅᏓ. ᎢᏳᏃ ᏂᎯ ᎠᏚᎳᏓᏎ ᎤᏅᏘ ᎬᏩᎣᏁ ᎩᎵ ᎥᎿᎢ, ᎠᎦᏎᏍᏙᏚ ᏩᏯᏗᏁ.

ᎾᏍᎩᏛ ᎧᏃᎮᏓᏎ ᎢᏧᎸ Ꮎ ᏂᎦᏛ ᏴᏫ ᏅᎵᏎ ᏈᎩᎻ* ᏴᏫ ᏂᏛᎴᏅᏓ. ᎢᏳᏃ ᏂᎯ ᎠᏚᎳᏓᏎ ᎤᏅᏘ ᎬᏩᎣᏁ ᏴᏫ ᎥᎿᎢ, ᎠᎦᏎᏍᏙᏚ ᏈᎩᎻ ᏴᏫᏁ.

*ᎤᏍᏗ, ᎤᎳᏏᎩ, ᎤᏰᎸᎭ ᏴᏫ Ꮎ ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎠᏎ ᎢᎾᎨᎢ ᎭᏫᎾ

Naked Wisdom 46

ᎠᏆᏤᎵ ᏧᏂᎦᏴᎵᎨ-ᎢᏳᎵᏍᏔᏅᏗ
Ꮭ ᏰᎵᏈᏎ ᎢᏰᎵᏍᏗ
ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲᏁ Ꮎ ᎢᏧᎳ
ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎠᏎ ᎪᎯ-ᎢᎦ.
ᎢᏧᎳ Ꮭ ᏰᎵᏆᏎ ᎢᏰᎵᏍᏗ
ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲᏁ Ꮎ ᎠᏆᏤᎵ
ᎤᎵᏏ-ᏗᏂᏲᏟ ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎣᏎ.
ᎠᏎᏃ ᎡᏆ-ᎠᏓᏅᏙ
ᏰᎵᏆᏎ ᎢᏰᎵᏍᏗ,
ᎠᎴ ᎠᏍᎩᏘᏍᏓᏎ ᎾᏍᎩᏁ.
ᎢᏧᎳ ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎠᏎ
Ꮎ ᎠᏍᎩᏘᏍᎦ ᎭᏫᎾ.

Our ancestors could not have imagined
the life we live today.
We cannot imagine
the life our grandchildren
will live.
But the Great Spirit
can imagine it all,
and dreams it.
We live
in that dream.

ᎤᏰᎸᎭ ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏍᏗ 46

ᎠᏆᏤᎵ ᏧᏂᎦᏴᎵᎨ-ᎢᏳᎵᏍᏔᏅᏗ
Ꮭ ᏰᎵᏈᏎ ᎢᏰᎵᏍᏗ
ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲᏁ Ꮎ ᎢᏧᎳ
ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎠᏎ ᎪᎯ-ᎢᎦ.
ᎢᏧᎳ Ꮭ ᏰᎵᏆᏎ ᎢᏰᎵᏍᏗ
ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲᏁ Ꮎ ᎠᏆᏤᎵ
ᎤᎵᏏ-ᏗᏂᏲᏟ ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎣᏎ.
ᎠᏎᏃ ᎡᏆ-ᎠᏓᏅᏙ
ᏰᎵᏆᏎ ᎢᏰᎵᏍᏗ,
ᎠᎴ ᎠᏍᎩᏘᏍᏓᏎ ᎾᏍᎩᏁ.
ᎢᏧᎳ ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎠᏎ
Ꮎ ᎠᏍᎩᏘᏍᎦ ᎭᏫᎾ.

Healthy and Happy

A healthy and happy
life in the sun
is what I wish
to everyone.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

Naked Wisdom 45

ᏂᎦᏛ Ꮎ ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎠᏎ,
ᎠᏓᏅᏌᏎ,
ᎠᎴ ᎤᏩᏌ Ꮎ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ
ᎤᏲᎱᏒ Ꮭ ᎠᏓᏅᏌᏎ.
ᎡᏆ ᎠᏓᏅᏙ
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏓᏅᏏᏙ,
ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲ,
ᎠᎴ ᏗᏓᎴᎲᏍᎬ
ᏧᎾᏍᏗ ᎥᎿᎢ.

Everything that lives,
moves,
and only what is dead
does not.
The Great Spirit
is movement,
life,
and the source
of change.

ᎤᏰᎸᎭ ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏍᏗ 45

ᏂᎦᏛ Ꮎ ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎠᏎ,
ᎠᏓᏅᏌᏎ,
ᎠᎴ ᎤᏩᏌ Ꮎ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ
ᎤᏲᎱᏒ Ꮭ ᎠᏓᏅᏌᏎ.
ᎡᏆ ᎠᏓᏅᏙ
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏓᏅᏏᏙ,
ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲ,
ᎠᎴ ᏗᏓᎴᎲᏍᎬ
ᏧᎾᏍᏗ ᎥᎿᎢ.