The Acorn-Planter. Джек Лондон

In the morning by the river,

              In the evening at the fire,

           In the night when all lay sleeping,

              Torn was I with life's desire.

           There were stirrings 'neath my heart-beats

              Of the dreams that came to me;

           In my ears were whispers, voices,

              Of the children yet to be.

           Red Cloud     (As Red Cloud sings, Dew-Woman

           steals from behind a tree and approaches

           him.)

           In the morning by the river

              Saw I first my maid of dew,

           Daughter of the dew and dawnlight,

              Of the dawn and honey-dew.

           She was laughter, she was sunlight,

              Woman, maid, and mate, and wife;

           She was sparkle, she was gladness,

              She was all the song of life.

           Dew-Woman     In the night I built my fire,

              Fire that maidens foster when

           In the ripe of mating season

              Each builds for her man of men.

           Red Cloud     In the night I sought her, proved her,

              Found her ease, content, and rest,

           After day of toil and struggle

              Man's reward on woman's breast.

           Dew-Woman     Came to me my mate and lover;

              Kind the hands he laid on me;

           Wooed me gently as a man may,

              Father of the race to be.

           Red Cloud     Soft her arms about me bound me,

              First man of the Nishinam,

           Arms as soft as dew and dawnlight,