Weave Little Stars Into My Sleep Quotes

“THE CLOUD-CRADLE

This little baby was given life.
Prayers were sung to make him strong.
Then his mother asked the rain gods
To look after him, his whole life long.
Then she set him in a cloud-cradle,
So that nothing could go wrong.
Safe as the sky in a cradle of clouds,
While mother watches and sings this song.

Acoma”
― Neil Philip, Weave Little Stars Into My Sleep: Native American Lullabies

“SHE WILL GATHER ROSES

This little girl
Was born to gather roses,
Wild roses.
This little girl
Was born to glean the rice,
Wild rice.
This little girl
Was born to pick strawberries,
Blueberries, elderberries,
All the wild berries.
This little girl
Was born to gather roses,
Wild roses.

Tsimshian”
― Neil Philip, Weave Little Stars Into My Sleep: Native American Lullabies

“DON'T CRY

Dear one, don't cry.
The stars are shining,
Shining with power,
Up in the sky!

Pawnee”
― Neil Philip, Weave Little Stars Into My Sleep: Native American Lullabies

“FIREFLY SONG

Flittering white-fire insect!
Wandering white-fire bug!
Weave little stars about my bed!
Weave little stars into my sleep!
Come, little dancing white-fire bug!
Come, little flitting white-fire beast!
Light me with your white-flame magic,
Your little star-torch.

Ojibwa”
― Neil Philip, Weave Little Stars Into My Sleep: Native American Lullabies

“THE LAND OF DREAMS

Sleep, sleep,
It will carry you
Into the land of wonderful dreams.
The future is waiting for you there—
Your future,
And your family.

Yuma”
― Neil Philip, Weave Little Stars Into My Sleep: Native American Lullabies

“OWL KACHINA SONG

Owls, owls,
Big owls and small,
Are staring
And glaring,
Children, at you all!
Listen to them hooting,
Tu-whit, tu-whoo.
Look up from your cradle boards—
They are looking at you.
What are they saying?
This is what they're saying:
"If you cry,
Old Yellow-Eyes will come,
Old Yellow-Eyes will come
And gobble you up."
What else are they saying?
This is what they're saying:
"If you're naughty,
Old Yellow-Eyes will come,
Old Yellow-Eyes will come
And swallow you whole."
So sleep, children, sleep,
Sleep and never cry,
For then Old Yellow-Eyes
Will pass you by.

Hopi”
― Neil Philip, Weave Little Stars Into My Sleep: Native American Lullabies