Old Man and Old Woman

Around many warm campfires this Blackfoot legend was told.
sat gathered round the Storyteller, the tale would then unfold.

An Old Man and Old Woman sent to the empty earth to plan
the rules for living in harmony for every future woman and man.
They travelled around all the four corners, near, far and wide,
trying to agree a system that would save them both their pride.

The Old Man decided that he would have the first say,
they had to make good rules for folks to live Creator’s way.
The Old woman agreed but the second say would be hers,
there must be a rule of life for every question that occurs.

The Old Man states that, “All the women must tan the hide,
the job would be simple, with tools the men would provide”.
The Old Woman disagreed and said, “The work should be hard,
that way, those working best would be held in good regard”.

Old Man said, “People would have two eyes and a mouth,
straight up and down in one line, going north and south”.
Old woman said she thought, “crosswise would be best,
two eyes on top, a nose then with a mouth be blessed”.

“Ten fingers on a hand”, decided the Old Man in haste,
“No”, said Old Woman, “Too many, they would only be a waste.
“Four fingers and a thumb on each hand, is what they need”,
and so they went on deciding until it was almost all agreed.

Then they had to choose about the matter of life and death,
would these people live forever or die with their last breath?
Old Man took a buffalo chip and threw it out into the river,
“If it floats they will return and then they will live forever”.

Old Woman didn’t think that fair so she threw in a stone,
the stone sank so people would die and go to the unknown.
A better way so the world wouldn’t get too over populated,
sympathy and kindness would be shown and people not affronted.

After a while Old Woman had a daughter, who was sick and died,
she wanted to change the rules they had made and she sadly cried.
Old Man refused, “It was agreed, death was forever,” he said
that is why, once your spirit leaves your body you have to stay dead.