Beginning Song

Grayhorse
Hominy
Pawhuska

drum in the center

whip men lead dancers onto the ground
they are seated
an occasional sound of a man’s bell
dancers sit waiting

men singers sit around the drum
women singers form an outer circle
around the seated men
a reverence

then it begins
the full even beat
of the drum
reaching back to who we are

the clear voice of a lead singer
followed by other men voices
women voices join the men
no one stands to dance

just the drum
just voices singing
a beautiful moment
again the people are one