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Riding on to Shiprock, she is with me.
We come with six horses.
We got up early this morning.
Twilight was gone.
The pink of Dawn came to greet us
as we rode out together.
We ride with six horses to trade and race.
My woman rides with me to Natani Nez.
Shiprock beckons me in the distance.
I turn.
She is riding close behind.
She sits in the saddle.
Her horse glides along the ground.
Her long hair catches in the breeze.
The wind blows through it softly.
She wears silver:
silver concho belt,
silver buttons,
a fine heavy bracelet with turquoise from Cerillos.
A Jaclo hangs gracefully from her neck.
She glows in the dawn light,
and the silver glistens.
Her velvet shirt shines yellow gold in the dawn.
Dew softens her face.
Her dark eyes glow.
Later, many join us,
as we ride past Table Mesa and on toward Shiprock.
We will race with these people by the river by Shiprock
We will play games and trade silver.
We will talk and sing and dance on the soft ground.
We will drink cool water.
We will share stories to tell again over the winter nights.
I will sing with the Yei-Be-Che's
and watch them move in the twilight.
On the distant far off horizon
a bonfire glows,
a blazing light beckoning me to come.
Let me go quickly.
Let me tell them I come.
Let me tell them she rides with me.
Let the Holy People know…
we are here in the light of Dawn.
It is with beauty I go,
and she rides with me….
Tonight, we will camp by the river by Shiprock.
My woman will make me coffee and corn stew.
Tonight when the sky is dark and trees are very still,
I will be standing at the place near Shiprock,
listening to whistles blowing
and a distant hooting,
the sound of dancers singing and moving in the night.
I will stand with the old and the young,
watching the story unfold
as it unfolded many winters ago.
We will dance and sing and laugh all night.
Monster Slayer and Born for Water and the Holy People will watch us.
They will say,
"It is time to put away summer things.
It is time to bring out winter things."
They will taste fresh melons.
They will delight in our remembering them.
They will delight in our re-telling their stories.
Look closely!
The People will dance and sing together all night.
I will watch them sway to the music.
I will listen to the laughter and talk.
Join me tonight.
We will dance until dawn.
Look to the night sky.
You will see a shooting star flicking by.
It is the Holy People
riding on a shooting star,
riding over to the Shiprock Fair in Navajoland,
listening to the songs that make my heart sing....
Yasho,
it feels good to be alive.
Let me wander these lands, my land, forever.
Let me know I am Navajo forever.
