Navajo Song of the Earth

 

The Earth is beautiful
The Earth is beautiful
The Earth is beautiful.
 
Below the East, the Earth, its face toward East,
the top of its head is beautiful.*
The soles of its feet, they are beautiful
Its feet, they are beautiful
Its legs, they are beautiful
Its body, it is beautiful
Its chest, it is beautiful
Its breast, it is beautiful
Its head-feather, it is beautiful
The Earth is beautiful.

 

Below the West, the Sky, it is beautiful, its face toward West,
the top of its head is beautiful -

 

Below the East, the dawn, its face toward East,
the top of its head is beautiful -

 

Below the West, the afterglow of sundown, its face toward West,
the top of its head is beautiful -

 

Below the East, White Corn, its face toward East,
the top of its head is beautiful -

 

Below the South, Blue Corn, its face toward South,
the top of its head is beautiful -

 

Below the West, Yellow Corn, its face toward West,
the top of its head is beautiful -

 

Below the North, vari-colored Corn, its face toward North,
the top of its head is beautiful -

 

Below the East, Sahanahray, its face toward East,
the top of its head is beautiful -

 

Below the West, Bekayhozhon, its face toward West,
the top of its head is beautiful -

 

Below the East, corn-pollen, its face toward East,
the top of its head is beautiful -

 

Below the West, the corn-beetle, its face toward West,
the top of its head is beautiful -

 

The Earth is beautiful.
 

 

*The rest of this stanza is repeated after each of the lines following.

 

 

(Navajo Ceremonial Song from the Blessingway chant,

translated by Dr. Harry Hoijer,

Sand painting of Sky Father and Earth Mother.)