Dreams of life : miscellaneous poems / Timothy Thomas Fortune [electronic text]

FAH-FAH.

A Legend of the Seminole Indians.

List to the tale of Fah-Fah, Fah-Fah, the Indian maid; So brave and lovely was she Her virtues should not fade.

The pride of the lone prairie, With black and searching eyes, She wandered free the forests And slept beneath the skies.

Ogo, the Chief, her parent, Regarded her with pride, And claimed she was the beauty Of all the prairie wide.

The youth who won his Fah-Fah Must be a valiant brave, A warrior wise in council Whom Nature prowess gave.

And there were two young warriors Who sought young Fah-Fah's hand, And one was brave Lomnaker Of Ogo's loyal band.

And none of all the warriors Could better draw the bow, Or mount the Indian pony, Or wield the long lasso.

His voice was heard in council, Where scars of honor spoke, 'Mongst men who had borne bravely The light and heavy yoke.

And, next, the Chief, Amwamba, His haughty claims preferred— Amwamba, quick to anger, To danger long inured.

Ogo disliked this Chieftain, But more his warriors feared; He wished to give his Fah-Fah To one his counsels shared.

He dreaded a collision With this great warrior Chief, And pain him 'twould Lomnaker To cause a cureless grief.

He shrewdly dropped the matter; His Fah-Fah must decide To which of her brave suitors She wished to be a bride.

Then both the tribes did gather Upon the level plain, To know the lucky suitor The Prairie Rose would gain.

Old Ogo signaled silence And lifted up his voice: "You must name now, my daughter; The warrior of your choice;

"They both are brave and valiant, To honor known and fame; And your choice of a partner Will cause you naught of shame."

And then there was excitement, But yet no word arose; And silent was young Fah-Fah, While thinking which to choose.

The rival suitors fiercely Upon each other glared, And both the tribes in anger About them wildly stared.

Young Fah-Fah raised her eyes up, On young Lomnaker gazed, Then to his side moved quickly, By love and ardor dazed!

The human mass in silence A moment did remain, Then 'rose loud yells of fierceness That echoed o'er the plain.

Lomnaker stood with valor By his elected bride, And, with the arm of courage, Felled many at his side.

Amwamba rushed upon him And aimed a deadly blow, Which, had not Fah-Fah warded, Would sure have laid him low,

The rival chieftains grappled, With prowess laid about, While from a thousand voices Arose a deafening shout.

Then ceased the other warriors The clatter of their bows, To watch in breathless silence Their champions deal the blows.

So valiant, well-matched warriors We do not often see, And long the time in coming Their like again will be!

His foe Lomnaker conquered, And trampled on his head! He proudly stood the victor— Amwamba now was dead.