Navajo Sand Painting

From between the fingers of the medicine man Colored sand flows steadily, Out of the hand of the Singer, tirelessly chanting, Flows blue and white and brown, flows yellow and black and red, Covering the hogan floor with patterns, Meaningless to unbelievers, While the sick girl, surrounded by silent watchers, Sits facing toward the East, Awaiting, with quiet confidence, the Sing's sure end. "There will be dancing to-night." she tells herself, "And I shall dance with the others!" "There will be feasting to-night." she says in her heart, "And laughter and talk around the fires of my people, And I shall be a part of it!" Elizabeth-Ellen Long