and an old one at that,
I've lived to learn,
and somehow learned
to live.
I've found that the most
important part
is in the learning
of the heart.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
Thursday, February 28, 2019
I Am Only A Man
I am only a man,
and an old one at that,
I've lived to learn,
and somehow learned
to live.
I've found that the most
important part
is in the learning
of the heart.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
and an old one at that,
I've lived to learn,
and somehow learned
to live.
I've found that the most
important part
is in the learning
of the heart.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
It Is Our Passion / ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏆᏤᎵ ᎠᏓᎨᎵᏲᏤᏗ
It is our passion that shows,
passion for beauty,
passion for truth,
passion for life,
for nature,
for all that we love,
and for each other.
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏆᏤᎵ ᎠᏓᎨᎵᏲᏤᏗ Ꮎ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎪᏩᏘᏔ,
ᎠᏓᎨᎵᏲᏤᏗ ᎤᏬᏚ ᎾᏍᎩᎭᎢ,
ᎠᏓᎨᎵᏲᏤᏗ ᏚᏳᎪᏛ ᎾᏍᎩᎭᎢ,
ᎠᏓᎨᎵᏲᏤᏗ ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲ ᎾᏍᎩᎭᎢ,
ᎬᏩᎣ ᎾᏍᎩᎭᎢ,
ᏂᎦᏛ Ꮎ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎨᏳᏓᏎ ᎾᏍᎩᎭᎢ,
ᎠᎴ ᏏᏴᏫ-ᏐᎢ ᎾᏍᎩᎭᎢ.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
passion for beauty,
passion for truth,
passion for life,
for nature,
for all that we love,
and for each other.
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏆᏤᎵ ᎠᏓᎨᎵᏲᏤᏗ Ꮎ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎪᏩᏘᏔ,
ᎠᏓᎨᎵᏲᏤᏗ ᎤᏬᏚ ᎾᏍᎩᎭᎢ,
ᎠᏓᎨᎵᏲᏤᏗ ᏚᏳᎪᏛ ᎾᏍᎩᎭᎢ,
ᎠᏓᎨᎵᏲᏤᏗ ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲ ᎾᏍᎩᎭᎢ,
ᎬᏩᎣ ᎾᏍᎩᎭᎢ,
ᏂᎦᏛ Ꮎ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎨᏳᏓᏎ ᎾᏍᎩᎭᎢ,
ᎠᎴ ᏏᏴᏫ-ᏐᎢ ᎾᏍᎩᎭᎢ.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Our Hearts Were Open
Our hearts were open,
but our hands were empty.
ᎠᏆᏤᎵ ᎠᏓᏅᏙᏗ ᎨᏒᎢᏎ ᎤᎵᏍᏚᎢᏓ,
ᎠᏎᏃ ᎠᏆᏤᎵ ᎤᏬᏰᏂᏗ ᎨᏒᎢᏎ ᎤᏏᏩ.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
but our hands were empty.
ᎠᏆᏤᎵ ᎠᏓᏅᏙᏗ ᎨᏒᎢᏎ ᎤᎵᏍᏚᎢᏓ,
ᎠᏎᏃ ᎠᏆᏤᎵ ᎤᏬᏰᏂᏗ ᎨᏒᎢᏎ ᎤᏏᏩ.
Monday, February 25, 2019
At this writing, this poetry blog has had 56,033 visits since its inception in October 2016. I view that as quite an accomplishment, and it seems to be gathering steam: the clickety-clack is becoming a steady hum.
Could I have written the above in Udugi? Probably not. "Clickety-clack" would probably have to be written as "tligeti-tlagi," since there are no "kl" consonant clusters in either Cherokee or Udugi. Also, I don't know the word for "hum" in Cherokee, if there is one. I'd probably have to borrow the English word, and write it as "hvnv" (in Cherokee and Udugi transcription, "v" represents a vowel that sounds like the short "u" in the English word "but"). I would not be able to write it as "hvmv," because the sign for the syllable "mv," which was considered to be unnecessary, went out of use long ago.
Interesting, no? But wait, you're in luck: there's even more! "-hv" is a suffixal question marker in both Cherokee and Udugi, similar to the English grunt "huh?" (which, however, goes back to 1608). But , in both Cherokee and Udugi, "v" is a short way of saying "yes." Cherokee's longer way, which is "v-v," is not used in Udugi, because of possible confusion with the English grunt "uh-uh."
I am amazed by the continued popularity of my blog postings in Udugi, so of course I intend to continue them.
Thank you all very much for your continued interest and enthusiasm. ᏩᏙ (wadó, thank you).
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
Could I have written the above in Udugi? Probably not. "Clickety-clack" would probably have to be written as "tligeti-tlagi," since there are no "kl" consonant clusters in either Cherokee or Udugi. Also, I don't know the word for "hum" in Cherokee, if there is one. I'd probably have to borrow the English word, and write it as "hvnv" (in Cherokee and Udugi transcription, "v" represents a vowel that sounds like the short "u" in the English word "but"). I would not be able to write it as "hvmv," because the sign for the syllable "mv," which was considered to be unnecessary, went out of use long ago.
Interesting, no? But wait, you're in luck: there's even more! "-hv" is a suffixal question marker in both Cherokee and Udugi, similar to the English grunt "huh?" (which, however, goes back to 1608). But , in both Cherokee and Udugi, "v" is a short way of saying "yes." Cherokee's longer way, which is "v-v," is not used in Udugi, because of possible confusion with the English grunt "uh-uh."
I am amazed by the continued popularity of my blog postings in Udugi, so of course I intend to continue them.
Thank you all very much for your continued interest and enthusiasm. ᏩᏙ (wadó, thank you).
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
It's Very Strange
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎤᏙᎯᏳ ᎠᏎᎩ:
ᎾᏍᎩ-ᎠᎨᏴ, Ꮎ ᎨᏒᎢᏎ ᎢᎦᏛ
ᎠᏆ ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲ,
ᎠᎴ ᏃᏊ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᎡᎶᎯ ᎭᏫᎾ,
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎢᎦᏛ ᎠᏆ ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲ ᎠᏏᏉ.
It's very strange:
she, who was part of my life,
and now is in the spirit world,
is part of my life again.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
ᎾᏍᎩ-ᎠᎨᏴ, Ꮎ ᎨᏒᎢᏎ ᎢᎦᏛ
ᎠᏆ ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲ,
ᎠᎴ ᏃᏊ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᎡᎶᎯ ᎭᏫᎾ,
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎢᎦᏛ ᎠᏆ ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲ ᎠᏏᏉ.
It's very strange:
she, who was part of my life,
and now is in the spirit world,
is part of my life again.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
Sunday, February 24, 2019
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎤᏙᎯᏳ ᎠᏎᎩ
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎤᏙᎯᏳ ᎠᏎᎩ:
ᎾᏍᎩ-ᎠᎨᏴ, Ꮎ ᎨᏒᎢᏎ ᎢᎦᏛ
ᎠᏆ ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲ,
ᎠᎴ ᏃᏊ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᎡᎶᎯ ᎭᏫᎾ,
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎢᎦᏛ ᎠᏆ ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲ ᎠᏏᏉ.
ᎾᏍᎩ-ᎠᎨᏴ, Ꮎ ᎨᏒᎢᏎ ᎢᎦᏛ
ᎠᏆ ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲ,
ᎠᎴ ᏃᏊ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᎡᎶᎯ ᎭᏫᎾ,
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎢᎦᏛ ᎠᏆ ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲ ᎠᏏᏉ.
Naked Wisdom 63
ᎢᏳᏃ ᏐᎢ ᎦᏃᎯᎵᏓᏗᏎ ᏯᎾᏌᏁ, ᎢᏧᎳ ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎢᏎ ᏌᏊ ᎭᎾᏂ ᎭᏫᎾ ᎠᎴ ᎠᏫᏍᎩᏎ ᏎᎷᏁ ᎠᎴ ᏐᎢ ᎠᎵᏍᏓᏴᏗ ᏠᎨᏏ-ᎠᏫᏒᏗᏁ. ᎢᎪᎯᏓ ᎾᎿᎢ ᎨᏥᎧᎲᏓ-ᎠᏁᎬᎢ ᎥᎿᎢ, ᎢᏧᎳ ᏰᎵᏈᏎ ᎪᎵᏱ, ᎠᏎᏃ ᎤgᏗᏗ ᏲᏁᎦ Ꮭ ᏰᎵᏈᏎ. ᎣᎦᎵᎰᎻ ᎭᏫᎾ, ᎤᎪᏗᏗ ᏲᏁᎦ ᎠᎴ ᎾᎥᏂᎨᏍᏗ ᏂᎦᏛ ᏐᎢ ᏴᏫᏯ Ꮭ ᏰᎵᏈᏎ ᎪᎵᏱ. ᎢᏧᎳ Ꮭ ᎦᏙᎴᏈᏎ ᎾᏍᎩᏁ ᏲᏁᎦ ᏂᏛᎴᏅᏓ, ᎠᏎᏃ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎦᏙᎴᏈᏎ ᎢᎦᏛ ᎤᏲᎢ ᎢᏳᏍᏗᏗᏁ ᎾᏍᎩᏛ ᏂᏛᎴᏅᏓ.
When others were hunting buffalo, we lived in one place and planted corn and other food crops. At the time of the Trail of Tears, we could read, but many of our white neighbors could not. In Oklahoma, most whites and almost all of the other Indians could not read. We did not learn that from white people. Unfortunately, we did learn some bad things from them.
Text © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler
When others were hunting buffalo, we lived in one place and planted corn and other food crops. At the time of the Trail of Tears, we could read, but many of our white neighbors could not. In Oklahoma, most whites and almost all of the other Indians could not read. We did not learn that from white people. Unfortunately, we did learn some bad things from them.
Text © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler
ᎤᏰᎸᎭ ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏍᏗ 63
ᎢᏳᏃ ᏐᎢ ᎦᏃᎯᎵᏓᏗᏎ ᏯᎾᏌᏁ, ᎢᏧᎳ ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎢᏎ ᏌᏊ ᎭᎾᏂ ᎭᏫᎾ ᎠᎴ ᎠᏫᏍᎩᏎ ᏎᎷᏁ ᎠᎴ ᏐᎢ ᎠᎵᏍᏓᏴᏗ ᏠᎨᏏ-ᎠᏫᏒᏗᏁ. ᎢᎪᎯᏓ ᎾᎿᎢ ᎨᏥᎧᎲᏓ-ᎠᏁᎬᎢ ᎥᎿᎢ, ᎢᏧᎳ ᏰᎵᏈᏎ ᎪᎵᏱ, ᎠᏎᏃ ᎤgᏗᏗ ᏲᏁᎦ Ꮭ ᏰᎵᏈᏎ. ᎣᎦᎵᎰᎻ ᎭᏫᎾ, ᎤᎪᏗᏗ ᏲᏁᎦ ᎠᎴ ᎾᎥᏂᎨᏍᏗ ᏂᎦᏛ ᏐᎢ ᏴᏫᏯ Ꮭ ᏰᎵᏈᏎ ᎪᎵᏱ. ᎢᏧᎳ Ꮭ ᎦᏙᎴᏈᏎ ᎾᏍᎩᏁ ᏲᏁᎦ ᏂᏛᎴᏅᏓ, ᎠᏎᏃ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎦᏙᎴᏈᏎ ᎢᎦᏛ ᎤᏲᎢ ᎢᏳᏍᏗᏗᏁ ᎾᏍᎩᏛ ᏂᏛᎴᏅᏓ.
Saturday, February 23, 2019
If the Body Still Serves
If the body still serves,
we will inhabit it,
and when it doesn't,
we won't.
Some whom we loved
have already gone on,
making them
closer than ever.
We feel their presence,
and are stronger for it.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
we will inhabit it,
and when it doesn't,
we won't.
Some whom we loved
have already gone on,
making them
closer than ever.
We feel their presence,
and are stronger for it.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
Twangy Ballads
Twangy ballads
on digital downloads.
the end of the Trail of Tears.
ᎠᏍᏛ-ᏕᎦᏅᏅ ᏗᎧᏃᎩᏛ
ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏒ-ᎠᏍᏆᎪᏗᏍᎩ ᎦᎴᏍᏗᏗ ᎾᎿ,
ᎤᎵᏍᏛ ᎨᏥᎧᎲᏓ ᎠᏁᎬᎢ ᎥᎿᎢ.
Text © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
on digital downloads.
the end of the Trail of Tears.
ᎠᏍᏛ-ᏕᎦᏅᏅ ᏗᎧᏃᎩᏛ
ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏒ-ᎠᏍᏆᎪᏗᏍᎩ ᎦᎴᏍᏗᏗ ᎾᎿ,
ᎤᎵᏍᏛ ᎨᏥᎧᎲᏓ ᎠᏁᎬᎢ ᎥᎿᎢ.
Text © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
Friday, February 22, 2019
ᎢᏳᏃ ᎠᏯ ᎤᏬᎯᏳᎭᏎ
ᎢᏳᏃ ᎠᏯ ᎤᏬᎯᏳᎭᏎ ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲ ᎭᏫᎾ ᎠᏲᎱᎯᏍᏗ ᎤᎶᏐᏅ? Ꭵ, ᎠᏯ ᎤᏬᎯᏳᎭᏎ ᎾᏍᎩᏁ. ᎠᏯ Ꮭ ᏰᎵᏆᏎ ᏗᎪᏏᏐᏗ ᎾᏍᎩᏁ, ᎠᏎᏃ ᎠᏯ ᏰᎵᏆᏎ ᎠᏒᎾᏍᏗ ᎾᏍᎩᏁ.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
ᎢᎦᏛ ᎠᏯ ᎦᎸᏗᏎ ᎬᏙᏗ
ᎢᎦᏛ ᎠᏯ ᎦᎸᏗᏎ ᎬᏙᏗ
ᎠᎴ ᎢᎦᏛ Ꮭ,
ᎠᏎᏃ ᎾᏍᎩ ᎠᎨᏴᏗ
ᎨᏒᎢᏎ ᎤᏤᎵᏛ ᎤᎾᎵᏗ
ᎠᎴ ᎠᏯ ᎠᏅᏓᏗᏍᏙᏎ ᎾᏍᎩᏛᏁ
ᎢᎪᎯᏓ ᎢᏧᎳ ᏗᏠᎯᏍᏓᏎ
ᏏᏴᏫ-ᏐᎢ ᎠᏏᏉ.
ᎠᎴ ᎢᎦᏛ Ꮭ,
ᎠᏎᏃ ᎾᏍᎩ ᎠᎨᏴᏗ
ᎨᏒᎢᏎ ᎤᏤᎵᏛ ᎤᎾᎵᏗ
ᎠᎴ ᎠᏯ ᎠᏅᏓᏗᏍᏙᏎ ᎾᏍᎩᏛᏁ
ᎢᎪᎯᏓ ᎢᏧᎳ ᏗᏠᎯᏍᏓᏎ
ᏏᏴᏫ-ᏐᎢ ᎠᏏᏉ.
Thursday, February 21, 2019
We Wolves Know
We wolves know
a thing or two
about you dogs.
First, we know
where you came from,
and how you got
from there to here.
We tolerate you,
we accept you,
sometimes we mate with you,
but we cannot
be you.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
a thing or two
about you dogs.
First, we know
where you came from,
and how you got
from there to here.
We tolerate you,
we accept you,
sometimes we mate with you,
but we cannot
be you.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
Many Things Change / ᎤᎪᏗᏗ ᎢᏳᏍᏗ ᎢᏴᏓᏎ
Many things change in our lives,
but what is essential does not.
ᎤᎪᏗᏗ ᎢᏳᏍᏗ ᎢᏴᏓᏎ
ᎠᏆᏤᎵ ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲᏗ ᎭᏫᎾ,
ᎠᏎᏃ Ꮎ ᎤᎵᏍᎨᏛ Ꮭ ᎢᏴᏓᏎ.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
but what is essential does not.
ᎤᎪᏗᏗ ᎢᏳᏍᏗ ᎢᏴᏓᏎ
ᎠᏆᏤᎵ ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲᏗ ᎭᏫᎾ,
ᎠᏎᏃ Ꮎ ᎤᎵᏍᎨᏛ Ꮭ ᎢᏴᏓᏎ.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
We Spend Our Lives
We spend our lives
in a search for beauty,
hoping to possess it.
It slips through our fingers,
and we see in the end
that it was only
light and shadow,
and the Divinity that lives
in the space between atoms,
and the space between stars.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
in a search for beauty,
hoping to possess it.
It slips through our fingers,
and we see in the end
that it was only
light and shadow,
and the Divinity that lives
in the space between atoms,
and the space between stars.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Man and Sun / ᎠᏍᎦᏯ ᎠᎴ ᏅᏓ
Man and sun,
a precious moment in time,
when all is well
and Nature is beneficent.
ᎠᏍᎦᏯ ᎠᎴ ᏅᏓ,
ᏌᏊ ᎦᎸᏉᏗ ᎢᏳᏊ ᎢᎪᎯᏓ ᎭᏫᎾ,
ᎢᏳᏃ ᏂᎦᏛ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎣᏍᏛ
ᎠᎴ ᎬᏩᎣ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎣᏍᏛ-ᎿᏛᎦᏁᏖ.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
a precious moment in time,
when all is well
and Nature is beneficent.
ᎠᏍᎦᏯ ᎠᎴ ᏅᏓ,
ᏌᏊ ᎦᎸᏉᏗ ᎢᏳᏊ ᎢᎪᎯᏓ ᎭᏫᎾ,
ᎢᏳᏃ ᏂᎦᏛ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎣᏍᏛ
ᎠᎴ ᎬᏩᎣ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎣᏍᏛ-ᎿᏛᎦᏁᏖ.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
Naked Wisdom 62
ᎬᏩᎣ ᎭᏫᎾ, ᎠᏯ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏆ ᎣᏪᏅᏒ ᎾᎿᎢ. ᎢᏧᎳ ᎪᎵᏍᏓᏎ ᏏᏴᏫ ᏐᎢ.
In nature, I am at home. We understand each other.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
In nature, I am at home. We understand each other.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
Monday, February 18, 2019
Sunday, February 17, 2019
We Live in Two Worlds
We live in two worlds
at the same time.
One is ancient, traditional,
bred into us
over millennia.
That world is fading,
but still very much alive.
The other is new,
younger than us,
and largely unknown.
Can we bring them together
to live in peace,
or will one of them
have to go?
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
at the same time.
One is ancient, traditional,
bred into us
over millennia.
That world is fading,
but still very much alive.
The other is new,
younger than us,
and largely unknown.
Can we bring them together
to live in peace,
or will one of them
have to go?
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
It Is a Great Challenge
It is a great challenge that God has set herself: to experience, understand, and know as much as possible, through the perceptions of amoebas and sand dollars, ferns and palm trees, beyond humans, and up through creatures and intelligences that we can't imagine, on a billion worlds. In the end, if there is one, She will do it all again. That is love of life.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
Naked Wisdom 61
ᎪᎩ ᎭᏫᎾ, ᎠᏯ ᎤᏩᏍᎦᏎ ᎤᎪᏗᏗ ᎠᏆ ᎢᎪᎯᏓᏁ ᎥᎿᎢ ᎤᏰᎸᎭ. ᎢᏳᏃ ᏄᏁᏌᏴᏢ ᎠᎵᏍᎪᎸᏙᏓᏎ, Ꮭ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎤᏟ-ᎢᏲᏍᏛ ᎦᎶᎯᏍᏗ ᎤᏩᏍᎩ ᎢᎪᎯᏓᏁ.
In the summer I spend most of my time naked. When weather permits, there is no better way to spend one's time.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
In the summer I spend most of my time naked. When weather permits, there is no better way to spend one's time.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
ᎤᏰᎸᎭ ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏍᏗ 61
ᎪᎩ ᎭᏫᎾ, ᎠᏯ ᎤᏩᏍᎦᏎ ᎤᎪᏗᏗ ᎠᏆ ᎢᎪᎯᏓᏁ ᎥᎿᎢ ᎤᏰᎸᎭ. ᎢᏳᏃ ᏄᏁᏌᏴᏢ ᎠᎵᏍᎪᎸᏙᏓᏎ, Ꮭ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎤᏟ-ᎢᏲᏍᏛ ᎦᎶᎯᏍᏗ ᎤᏩᏍᎩ ᎢᎪᎯᏓᏁ.
I Am Swimming Through Time
I am swimming through time,
finding islands of rest,
where I recover my strength,
and go on with the test.
Crossing this ocean
has taken millennia.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
finding islands of rest,
where I recover my strength,
and go on with the test.
Crossing this ocean
has taken millennia.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
Saturday, February 16, 2019
I Peer through the Centuries
I peer through the centuries,
looking for what?
For patterns, relationships,
and histories.
Do I find them?
Oh, yes,
too many
to count.
Out of the past
grows the present,
and we will birth
an alien future.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
looking for what?
For patterns, relationships,
and histories.
Do I find them?
Oh, yes,
too many
to count.
Out of the past
grows the present,
and we will birth
an alien future.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
What Are We to Nature / ᎦᏙᎤᏍᏗ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎬᏩᎣ ᏗᏜ
What are we to Nature,
but something to carry life
into all the dark corners
of the universe?
And there,
we shall succeed.
ᎦᏙᎤᏍᏗ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎬᏩᎣ ᏗᏜ,
ᎾᏍᎩ-ᎤᏩᏒ ᎪᎱᏍᏗ
ᎠᏫᏛᏗ ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲᏁ
ᏂᎦᏛ ᎤᎳᏏᎩ ᎤᏅᏏᏴᏗ ᎾᎿᎢ
ᏂᎦᏛᎣ ᎥᎿᎢ?
ᎠᎴ Ꮎ ᎭᏫᎾ,
ᎢᏧᎳ ᎤᏍᏆᏛᎰᏎ.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
but something to carry life
into all the dark corners
of the universe?
And there,
we shall succeed.
ᎦᏙᎤᏍᏗ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎬᏩᎣ ᏗᏜ,
ᎾᏍᎩ-ᎤᏩᏒ ᎪᎱᏍᏗ
ᎠᏫᏛᏗ ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲᏁ
ᏂᎦᏛ ᎤᎳᏏᎩ ᎤᏅᏏᏴᏗ ᎾᎿᎢ
ᏂᎦᏛᎣ ᎥᎿᎢ?
ᎠᎴ Ꮎ ᎭᏫᎾ,
ᎢᏧᎳ ᎤᏍᏆᏛᎰᏎ.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
Friday, February 15, 2019
ᏅᏙᎢᎦᎡᎯ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᏗᏓᎴᎲᏍᎬ / The Sun Is the Source
ᏅᏙᎢᎦᎡᎯ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᏗᏓᎴᎲᏍᎬ
ᏂᎦᏛ ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲ ᎥᎿᎢ,
ᏗᏓᎴᎲᏍᎬ ᏂᎦᏛ ᏄᎵᏂᎬᎬ
ᎡᏆ-ᎡᎶᎯ ᎭᏫᎾ.
ᎤᏩᏌ ᎬᏩᎣ ᏰᎵᏆᏎ
ᎠᏓᏍᏕᎸᏗ ᎢᏧᎸ,
ᎠᎴ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎠᏓᎯᏍᏓᏎ ᎾᏍᎩᏁ.
The sun is the source
of all life,
the source of all energy
on earth.
Only nature can
save us,
and we are killing it.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
ᏂᎦᏛ ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲ ᎥᎿᎢ,
ᏗᏓᎴᎲᏍᎬ ᏂᎦᏛ ᏄᎵᏂᎬᎬ
ᎡᏆ-ᎡᎶᎯ ᎭᏫᎾ.
ᎤᏩᏌ ᎬᏩᎣ ᏰᎵᏆᏎ
ᎠᏓᏍᏕᎸᏗ ᎢᏧᎸ,
ᎠᎴ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎠᏓᎯᏍᏓᏎ ᎾᏍᎩᏁ.
The sun is the source
of all life,
the source of all energy
on earth.
Only nature can
save us,
and we are killing it.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
Thursday, February 14, 2019
This Body / ᎯᎠ ᎠᏰᎸ
This body is only a remnant
of what it was,
but what it lacks
in youth and strength,
it has in embodiment
of pure spirit.
ᎯᎠ ᎠᏰᎸ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎤᏩᏌ ᏩᎵᏃᎯᏯᏍᎬ
Ꮎ ᎨᏒᎢᏎ ᎥᎿᎢ,
ᎠᏎᏃ Ꮎ ᎦᎷᎶᎦᏎ
ᎠᏚᏍᎩ ᎠᎴ ᏄᎵᏂᎬᎬ ᎭᏫᎾ,
ᎤᎭ ᎠᏰᎸᎢᏍᏙ ᎭᏫᎾ
ᎤᏓᏅᎦᎸᏓ ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᎥᎿᎢ.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
of what it was,
but what it lacks
in youth and strength,
it has in embodiment
of pure spirit.
ᎯᎠ ᎠᏰᎸ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎤᏩᏌ ᏩᎵᏃᎯᏯᏍᎬ
Ꮎ ᎨᏒᎢᏎ ᎥᎿᎢ,
ᎠᏎᏃ Ꮎ ᎦᎷᎶᎦᏎ
ᎠᏚᏍᎩ ᎠᎴ ᏄᎵᏂᎬᎬ ᎭᏫᎾ,
ᎤᎭ ᎠᏰᎸᎢᏍᏙ ᎭᏫᎾ
ᎤᏓᏅᎦᎸᏓ ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᎥᎿᎢ.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
I'll Burn My Mementos / ᎠᏯ ᎠᎪᎲᏍᏙᏎ ᎠᏆ ᎠᏅᏓᏗᏍᏗ-ᎢᏳᏍᏗᏗᏁ
I'll burn my mementos
of the Summer of Love.
I am not a memorist.
I can only be what I am--
a naked poet
disguised as a clothed poet,
and a spewer of languages.
ᎠᏯ ᎠᎪᎲᏍᏙᏎ ᎠᏆ ᎠᏅᏓᏗᏍᏗ-ᎢᏳᏍᏗᏗᏁ
ᎨᏳ-ᎪᎩ ᎥᎿᎢ.
ᎠᏯ Ꮭ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎪᏪᎵᏍᎩ-ᎠᏅᏓᏗᏍᏗ.
ᎠᏯ ᎤᏩᏌ ᏰᎵᏆᏎ ᎨᏒᎢ Ꮎ ᎠᏯ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ--
ᎤᏰᎸᎭ ᎪᏪᎵᏍᎩ-ᎧᏃᎮᎸᏍᎩ
ᎠᏣᏅᏍᎩᏔ ᏥᎸ ᏗᏄᏫᏔ,
ᎠᎴ ᎦᏬᏂᎯᏍᎩ-ᏗᏓᎴᎲᏍᎬ.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
of the Summer of Love.
I am not a memorist.
I can only be what I am--
a naked poet
disguised as a clothed poet,
and a spewer of languages.
ᎠᏯ ᎠᎪᎲᏍᏙᏎ ᎠᏆ ᎠᏅᏓᏗᏍᏗ-ᎢᏳᏍᏗᏗᏁ
ᎨᏳ-ᎪᎩ ᎥᎿᎢ.
ᎠᏯ Ꮭ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎪᏪᎵᏍᎩ-ᎠᏅᏓᏗᏍᏗ.
ᎠᏯ ᎤᏩᏌ ᏰᎵᏆᏎ ᎨᏒᎢ Ꮎ ᎠᏯ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ--
ᎤᏰᎸᎭ ᎪᏪᎵᏍᎩ-ᎧᏃᎮᎸᏍᎩ
ᎠᏣᏅᏍᎩᏔ ᏥᎸ ᏗᏄᏫᏔ,
ᎠᎴ ᎦᏬᏂᎯᏍᎩ-ᏗᏓᎴᎲᏍᎬ.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Naked Wisdom 60
ᎪᎳᎾ, ᎠᏴᏓᏆᎶᏍᎬ ᏥᏍᏆ,
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎤᎵᏍᎨᏛ ᎢᎬᏂᏏᏍᎩ
ᎢᏧᎳ ᎤᏚᎳᏓᏎ ᎤᏚᎩᏁ,
ᎢᏧᎳ ᎤᏚᎳᏓᏎ ᏄᎵᏂᎬᎬᏁ,
ᎠᎴ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎤᏚᎳᏓᏎ ᎠᎵᎦᎵᏴᎯᏁ.
Golana, the Thunderbird,
is important because
we need hope,
we need strength,
and we need courage.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎤᎵᏍᎨᏛ ᎢᎬᏂᏏᏍᎩ
ᎢᏧᎳ ᎤᏚᎳᏓᏎ ᎤᏚᎩᏁ,
ᎢᏧᎳ ᎤᏚᎳᏓᏎ ᏄᎵᏂᎬᎬᏁ,
ᎠᎴ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎤᏚᎳᏓᏎ ᎠᎵᎦᎵᏴᎯᏁ.
Golana, the Thunderbird,
is important because
we need hope,
we need strength,
and we need courage.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
ᎤᏰᎸᎭ ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏍᏗ 60
ᎪᎳᎾ, ᎠᏴᏓᏆᎶᏍᎬ ᏥᏍᏆ,
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎤᎵᏍᎨᏛ ᎢᎬᏂᏏᏍᎩ
ᎢᏧᎳ ᎤᏚᎳᏓᏎ ᎤᏚᎩᏁ,
ᎢᏧᎳ ᎤᏚᎳᏓᏎ ᏄᎵᏂᎬᎬᏁ,
ᎠᎴ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎤᏚᎳᏓᏎ ᎠᎵᎦᎵᏴᎯᏁ.
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎤᎵᏍᎨᏛ ᎢᎬᏂᏏᏍᎩ
ᎢᏧᎳ ᎤᏚᎳᏓᏎ ᎤᏚᎩᏁ,
ᎢᏧᎳ ᎤᏚᎳᏓᏎ ᏄᎵᏂᎬᎬᏁ,
ᎠᎴ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎤᏚᎳᏓᏎ ᎠᎵᎦᎵᏴᎯᏁ.
You May Think You Know Me
You may think you know me,
but who is it, really, that you know?
Is it the twenty-year-old,
still single and full of fire,
or is it the seventy-something,
on the cusp of entropy,
or any of the fugitive states of matter
in between?
No matter--
we are all here,
still struggling
to coexist.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
but who is it, really, that you know?
Is it the twenty-year-old,
still single and full of fire,
or is it the seventy-something,
on the cusp of entropy,
or any of the fugitive states of matter
in between?
No matter--
we are all here,
still struggling
to coexist.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
Naked Wisdom 59 (translation)
ᎪᎳᎾ, ᎠᏴᏓᏆᎶᏍᎬ ᏥᏍᏆ,
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᏥᏍᏆ,
ᏗᎬᏟᏐᏍᏙᏗ ᏄᎵᏂᎬᎬ,
ᎤᎳᏂᎬᎬ, ᎠᎴ ᎠᎵᏍᏕᎸᏙᏗ ᎥᎿᎢ.
ᎪᎳᎾ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏆᏤᎵ ᎠᎵᏍᏕᎵᏍᎩ.
Golana, the Thunderbird,
is a spirit-bird,
symbol of strength,
power, and protection.
Golana is our protector.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᏥᏍᏆ,
ᏗᎬᏟᏐᏍᏙᏗ ᏄᎵᏂᎬᎬ,
ᎤᎳᏂᎬᎬ, ᎠᎴ ᎠᎵᏍᏕᎸᏙᏗ ᎥᎿᎢ.
ᎪᎳᎾ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏆᏤᎵ ᎠᎵᏍᏕᎵᏍᎩ.
Golana, the Thunderbird,
is a spirit-bird,
symbol of strength,
power, and protection.
Golana is our protector.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
ᎤᏰᎸᎭ ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏍᏗ 59
ᎪᎳᎾ, ᎠᏴᏓᏆᎶᏍᎬ ᏥᏍᏆ,
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᏥᏍᏆ,
ᏗᎬᏟᏐᏍᏙᏗ ᏄᎵᏂᎬᎬ,
ᎤᎳᏂᎬᎬ, ᎠᎴ ᎠᎵᏍᏕᎸᏙᏗ ᎥᎿᎢ.
ᎪᎳᎾ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏆᏤᎵ ᎠᎵᏍᏕᎵᏍᎩ.
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᏥᏍᏆ,
ᏗᎬᏟᏐᏍᏙᏗ ᏄᎵᏂᎬᎬ,
ᎤᎳᏂᎬᎬ, ᎠᎴ ᎠᎵᏍᏕᎸᏙᏗ ᎥᎿᎢ.
ᎪᎳᎾ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏆᏤᎵ ᎠᎵᏍᏕᎵᏍᎩ.
Monday, February 11, 2019
It Is the Parts / ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎢᎦᏛᏗ
It is the parts that we keep hidden
that produce the most light.
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎢᎦᏛᏗ Ꮎ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎠᏍᏆᏂᎪᏓᏎ ᎠᏗᏍᎦᎶᏗᏔ
Ꮎ ᎠᏛᎯᏍᏙᏓᏎ ᎤᎪᏗᏗ ᎤᎸᏌᏓᏁ.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
that produce the most light.
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎢᎦᏛᏗ Ꮎ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎠᏍᏆᏂᎪᏓᏎ ᎠᏗᏍᎦᎶᏗᏔ
Ꮎ ᎠᏛᎯᏍᏙᏓᏎ ᎤᎪᏗᏗ ᎤᎸᏌᏓᏁ.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
We Live on Multiple Planes of Reality / ᎢᏧᎳ ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎠᏎ ᎤᎪᏗᏗ
We live on multiple planes of reality
at the same time,
not fully realized
in every one of them.
We see a head here,
genitals there,
and something wholly other
beyond the mirror.
ᎢᏧᎳ ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎠᏎ ᎤᎪᏗᏗ
ᎤᏩᎾᏕᏍᎪᏗ ᎾᎿ
ᎤᏙᎯᏳᏄᏍᏛ ᎥᎿᎢ
ᏌᏊ ᎢᎪᎯᏓ ᏀᎾᎢ,
Ꮭ ᎠᏂᎧᎵ ᎠᏙᎴᎰᎯᏍᏗᏔ
ᏂᎦᏛ ᎤᏩᎾᏕᏍᎪ ᎭᏫᎾ.
ᎢᏧᎳ ᎪᏩᏔᏎ ᎠᏍᎪᎵᏁ ᎠᎭᏂ,
ᎤᏤᎵᏓ ᎢᎦᏛᏁ ᎤᎿ,
ᎠᎴ ᎪᎱᏍᏗᏁ ᏂᎦᏛ-ᎧᎵᎢ ᏄᏓᎴᎿᎥ
ᎠᏓᎨᏗ ᎤᏗᏗᏢ.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
at the same time,
not fully realized
in every one of them.
We see a head here,
genitals there,
and something wholly other
beyond the mirror.
ᎢᏧᎳ ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎠᏎ ᎤᎪᏗᏗ
ᎤᏩᎾᏕᏍᎪᏗ ᎾᎿ
ᎤᏙᎯᏳᏄᏍᏛ ᎥᎿᎢ
ᏌᏊ ᎢᎪᎯᏓ ᏀᎾᎢ,
Ꮭ ᎠᏂᎧᎵ ᎠᏙᎴᎰᎯᏍᏗᏔ
ᏂᎦᏛ ᎤᏩᎾᏕᏍᎪ ᎭᏫᎾ.
ᎢᏧᎳ ᎪᏩᏔᏎ ᎠᏍᎪᎵᏁ ᎠᎭᏂ,
ᎤᏤᎵᏓ ᎢᎦᏛᏁ ᎤᎿ,
ᎠᎴ ᎪᎱᏍᏗᏁ ᏂᎦᏛ-ᎧᎵᎢ ᏄᏓᎴᎿᎥ
ᎠᏓᎨᏗ ᎤᏗᏗᏢ.
Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
I am happy to announce that this poetry blog has now received 55,000 visits. This morning I tried to do some analysis of the blog statistics, and got a big surprise. The ᎤᏰᎸᎭ ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏍᏗ / Naked Wisdom series, which currently includes fifty-eight posts, has been amazingly and very durably popular. Over the past month, half of the posts in the top ten belonged to this series, which is the principal teaching vehicle for the Udugi language. Half of the posts in the all-time top ten are also in this series. Of posts that have had one hundred or more visits, 5/6 belong to this series.
I have posted my poems in various languages, including Spanish, French, and Portunhol, but no language has brought the number of visitors and the wide audience that Udugi has brought. This is a result that I had not dared to hope for. I am not yet able to explain it, except to say that Udugi, the language of hope, has captured people's imagination. In the process, it has become an integral part of my poetry.
Thanks to all of you for your continued interest and enthusiasm.
Text and images © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.
I have posted my poems in various languages, including Spanish, French, and Portunhol, but no language has brought the number of visitors and the wide audience that Udugi has brought. This is a result that I had not dared to hope for. I am not yet able to explain it, except to say that Udugi, the language of hope, has captured people's imagination. In the process, it has become an integral part of my poetry.
Thanks to all of you for your continued interest and enthusiasm.
Text and images © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.