Song “A”
translated from the Navajo by Washington Matthews
Where my kindred dwell, there I wander.
Child of the White Corn am I, there I wander.
At the Red Rock House, there I wander.
Where the dark kethawns are at the doorway, there I wander.
With the pollen of dawn upon my trail, there I wander.
At the yuni the striped cotton hangs with pollen. There I wander.
Going around with it, there I wander.
Taking another, I depart with it. With it I wander.
In the house of long life, there I wander.
In the house of happiness, there I wander.
Beauty before me, with it I wander.
Beauty behind me, with it I wander.
Beauty below me, with it I wander.
Beauty above me, with it I wander.
Beauty all around me, with it I wander.
In old age traveling, with it I wander.
On the beautiful trail I am, with it I wander.
This poem is in the public domain. Published in Poem-a-Day on November 16, 2025, by the Academy of American Poets.