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Simms, William Gilmore, 1806-1870 [1833], The book of my lady: a melange (Key & Biddle, Philadelphia) [word count] [eaf355].

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THE GREEN CORN DANCE.

[figure description] Page 257.[end figure description]

This is one of the primitive and pleasing festivals common to
many of the Indian tribes of North America; and presents a
pleasing portrait of the naturally devotional temperament of this
savage people. On the first appearance of the green corn from
the earth, old and young, male and female, assemble together
in their several classes, and rejoicing in the promise of a good
harvest, unite in offering their acknowledgment to the Great
Spirit for his beneficence. This is the poetry of truth—of religion;
and is one of those fine traits in the habits of every people, however
savage, by which they still seem to indicate a consciousness,
not merely of a superior being, but of a higher hope and destiny
for themselves—a consciousness, which must always, to a certain
extent, work out its own fulfilment.

Come hither, hither, old and young—the gentle and the strong,
And gather in the green corn dance, and mingle with the song—
The summer comes, the summer cheers, and with a spirit gay,
We bless the smiling boon she bears, and thus her gifts repay.
Eagle from the mountain,
Proudly descend!
Young dove from the fountain,
Hitherward bend—
Bright eye of the bower—
Bird, and bud, and flower,—
Come—while beneath the summer's sunny glance,
The green leaf peeps from earth, and mingle in the dance.
Not now reluctant do we come to gladden in the boon,
The gentle summer brings us now, so lavishly and soon—

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[figure description] Page 258.[end figure description]

From every distant village, and from deep secluded glen,
They gather to the green corn dance, bright maids and warrior
men.
If the grave, the gravest,
Smiling, now come—
Of the brave, the bravest—
Give the brave room.
Loftiest in station,
Sweetest of the nation,
Come—while beneath the summer's sunny glance,
The green blade peeps from earth, and mingle in the dance.
Now give the choral song and shout, and let the green woods ring,
And we will make a merry rout to usher in the spring—
Sing high, and while the happy mass in many a ring goes round,
The birds shall cheer, the woods shall hear, and all the hills resound.

Fathers, who have taught us
Ably our toil,
For the blessing brought us,
Share with us the spoil.
Spirit-God above us,
Deign thou still to love us,
While long beneath the summer's sunny glance,
We see the green corn spring from earth, and gather in the dance.

-- 259 --

p355-260
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Simms, William Gilmore, 1806-1870 [1833], The book of my lady: a melange (Key & Biddle, Philadelphia) [word count] [eaf355].