Note: Tuchuk songs are
often stories sang to music such as the one below
Song of Klaw, Tanka,
and the priceless Bull
The wily Tuchuk, Klaw,
bent, and knarled with age,
and His sour Companion, Tanka,
Who caused Him naught but rage.
Bitter were Their
words,
as spitefully They fought,
'til at last, amongst the Herd,
silence Klaw sought.
He took Himself to
a Bull,
aged almost as He,
the bosk's council He had full,
so from Tanka to be free.
She sought Him for
His mid-day meal,
Amongst the lowing beast,
She returned to arguing with zeal,
while Klaw silent, did feast.
Her arms did wildly
swing,
whilst bitter words she spewed,
and the Bull, she did sting,
as the sweet grass he chewed.
The Bull, he kicked
out with suprise!,
to feel such unknown pain,
And Tanka never again did rise,
from off the grassy Plain.
And when Klaw did
bury her,
while Friends did gather round,
speaking soft and solemn Prayer,
while She lay silent in the ground.
Taka, the Leader of
this Band,
note with suprise did He,
when the Women took Klaw's hand,
He softly nodded :"Aye".
But when the Men,
in whispers low,
By Klaws side made Their way,
Klaw's chin swung to and fro,
the answer always: "Nay."
Taka pondered long
on this,
'til at last He went,
to stand with Klaw in the mist,
and ask Him what it meant.
Quoath Klaw:
""How lovely does Tanka look."
the Women say unto Me,
and though My low voice shook,
answer I to Them :"Aye.""
"Then upon Me, the
Men did prevail,
in quiet whispers They would say:,
"and is the loyal Bull for sale?"
My answer gave
Them: "NAY!"."
Submitted by: Gia Ravennight of
Ko-Ro-Ba
