this song most likely refers to the creation legend of the Kiowa Indian tribe, which made up a large part of the prose and poetry of N. Scott Momaday. In the prologue to "The Ancient Child," the Kiowa creation story is told as follows:
"Eight Children were there at play, seven sisters and their brother. Suddenly the boy was struck dumb; he trembled and began to run upon his hands and feet. His fingers became claws, and his body was covered with fur. Directly there was a bear where the boy had been. The sisters were terrified; they ran, and the bear after them. They came to the stump of a great tree, and the tree spoke to them. It bade them climb upon it, and as they did so it began to rise in the air. The bear came to kill them, but they were beyond its reach. It reared against the trunk and scored the bark all around with it claws. The seven sisters were borne into the sky, and they became the stars of the Big Dipper."
The concept of a great transformation of both form and spirituality is a major part of Kiowa beliefs. The story interprets the connection between life and its cycles, as well as the transformation of these two things amongst animals and humans, the land and the stars.
This is the only relation I can find between the two, where he says "He made the world a grassy road before our bare wandering feet, etc." Throughout the song he seems to be pondering this spiritual transformation ("rejoice, the cleansing of my lips!"), and mentions physical transformation ("I threw a stone down at the reflection of my image in the water and it altogether disappeared. I burst, it shattered me like a bullet through a bottle.") I'm not sure why the closing line, but my guess is that he's questioning the validity of such transformations.
The chorus also relates to Kiowa customs. The Kiowa are best known for their ceremonional Sun Dance; the connection here is the opening and closing lines ("Come quick, you light that knows no evening - come alone to the alone!" (the sun) You dance inside my chest where no one sees you, but sometimes I see you.")
this song most likely refers to the creation legend of the Kiowa Indian tribe, which made up a large part of the prose and poetry of N. Scott Momaday. In the prologue to "The Ancient Child," the Kiowa creation story is told as follows:
"Eight Children were there at play, seven sisters and their brother. Suddenly the boy was struck dumb; he trembled and began to run upon his hands and feet. His fingers became claws, and his body was covered with fur. Directly there was a bear where the boy had been. The sisters were terrified; they ran, and the bear after them. They came to the stump of a great tree, and the tree spoke to them. It bade them climb upon it, and as they did so it began to rise in the air. The bear came to kill them, but they were beyond its reach. It reared against the trunk and scored the bark all around with it claws. The seven sisters were borne into the sky, and they became the stars of the Big Dipper."
The concept of a great transformation of both form and spirituality is a major part of Kiowa beliefs. The story interprets the connection between life and its cycles, as well as the transformation of these two things amongst animals and humans, the land and the stars.
This is the only relation I can find between the two, where he says "He made the world a grassy road before our bare wandering feet, etc." Throughout the song he seems to be pondering this spiritual transformation ("rejoice, the cleansing of my lips!"), and mentions physical transformation ("I threw a stone down at the reflection of my image in the water and it altogether disappeared. I burst, it shattered me like a bullet through a bottle.") I'm not sure why the closing line, but my guess is that he's questioning the validity of such transformations.
The chorus also relates to Kiowa customs. The Kiowa are best known for their ceremonional Sun Dance; the connection here is the opening and closing lines ("Come quick, you light that knows no evening - come alone to the alone!" (the sun) You dance inside my chest where no one sees you, but sometimes I see you.")
*sp. thanks to thegreatcreator<3