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Abenaki Legend: Maple Syrup

2/15/2013

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The Maple tree in ancient days
made sap so thick and sweet
all you had to do was break
a branch, and you could eat

the People of one village saw
how easy it might be
to lie beneath a branch and drink
the sap straight from the tree

they lay in sweet forgetfulness
for days, and then for weeks
the fields grew weeds, the fires cold
and still they filled their cheeks

Gluskabe saw that it was time
to wake them from their dream
from bark of Birch he made a pail
and filled it from the stream

and all the water he poured in
for each Moon of the year
the Maple's sap grew thin and pale
the People woke in fear


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"What's happened to the Maple tree
that has sustained us so?"
"Such gifts can not be given free
no more will syrup flow

the Maple is a gift to you
but now in one Moon turning
you must work hard to catch the flow
coax honey from the burning"

he showed the People how to make
the pails and piles of wood
and gather rocks to boil the sap
and make the syrup good

now each year in the Sap Moon's turn
and heedless of the weather
so grateful for Creator's gift
the People come together

---April 2012

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