THE DELUGE

Long ago, yes, oh, so long since,— When the world was young and fair, All the animals were friendly; E’en the bison and the bear Aided man with all their cunning, Helped him with their counsels grave, Helped him as the gods alone can— Made him wise and strong and brave. And the flowers on the prairies Blossomed ever, shy and sweet, For the land of the Dakotas Knew not frost, nor killing heat. But there lived a dread god, North Wind, Cruel was he, with heart of stone, Feared of all and loved by no one, Living to himself alone In the land of snow and blizzard, In the land of deadening cold, Plotting ever some new mischief, Some new ravage, cruel and bold. And one day this mighty North Wind Left his throne of ice and snow, In the cold, far distant northland Where the wriggling ice-worms glow; Southward came he, and the flowers Bent their lovely heads in death, For from out his icy nostrils Came an all-destroying breath.— At the mighty, stately forests Angrily his teeth he gnashed, With one mighty blow he felled them And with chains the rivers lashed; Ceased their laughter and their murmur, Ceased their sweet life-giving flow.— All the birds and beasts in terror Fled, and knew not where to go; Food they found not, and no shelter, Dying were the mortals all, And a slow relentless snow shroud Draped the earth as with a pall.— Death supreme reigned; loud the North Wind Roared defiance to the gods!— Birds and beasts and man in terror Fled, and, dying, called the gods To avenge their death and suffering, To unite them one and all In the holy cause of vengeance, To secure the North Wind’s fall.— And the South Wind, fairest maiden Of the gods, took up their cause; Girded now herself for battle, And after a moment’s pause Called unto her loyal brothers, The strong East Wind, and the West, “Help revenge the suffering mortals”— And they granted her request. Strong the fight raged in Dakota ’Twixt the North Wind and his foes, Now one side yields, now the other, Fierce and loud the tempest blows;— Savagely the monster charges Grappling with his unseen foes While a wild, chaotic blizzard, Such as ne’er was seen, arose, Hiding all within its fury, Made the daylight dark as night, For the very gods were grappling In a last terrific fight.— Ages long the battle lasted— Then the maiden fair and lovely, Smiled benignant on her foe, And his very heart was melting (For ’twas made of ice and snow); Loosed the rivers from their bondage, Vanished now the shroud of snow, And o’er North Dakota’s prairies Flowers fair began to grow; With the advent of the flowers Came the birds and beasts and man, Built again their homes and wigwams— And no more they anxious scan The horizon for the North Wind, Knowing that he’s met his fate; But the South Wind, fair and lovely Rules now o’er Dakota’s state. Southward now each year the North Wind Wends his way to see her face, To the land of the Dakotas Where the battle once took place; Smiling sweet, the maiden greets him, Warms again his chilly heart; Satisfied, he briefly lingers— With him, winter’s cold, depart.