Memorial Day - for my uncle

Foxgloves in the Fool's Garden

I Erect My Drum

I erect my drum, I assemble my friends. Aya 

Here they find recreation, I make them sing. 

Thus we must go over There. Remember this. Be happy. Aya! 

Oh my friends! Ohuaya ohuaya!

Perhaps now with calm, and thus it must be over There? Aya!

Perhaps there is also calm 

There in the Bodyless Place? Aye! Ohuaya ohuaya! 

Let us go. 

But here the law of the flowers governs,

here the law of the song governs,

here on earth. Ehuaya!

Be happy, dress in finery, oh friends. Ohuaya ohuaya.

                                                        -- Hungry Coyote  from The Flower Songs of Hungry Coyote
                                                                                                translated by John Curl