Yáahl

Raven

by Erma Lawrence
Original version published in: Xaadas Gyaahláang (1974), Society for the Preservation of Haida Language and Literature.

Yáahl uu st'igáalaan, hal st'i'áwyaagaan.
Raven got sick, he was very sick.

'Wáadluu xíl hal tlaahláayaan.
Then he made some medicine.

Gut'iláa k'íit k'uts hal ts'asláangaan.
He boiled different kinds of tree roots.

'Wáadluu sáng kwáan hal néilaan gyaan hal 'lagáalaan
Then he drank it for many days and got well.

Asgáayst hal xitgwáangaan táawk uu hal diyáangaan.
Then he flew around looking for food.

'Wáadluu, chíin kwáan gándlaay aa hal táagaan.
Then he ate a lot of fish in a creek.

Hal sk'ísdlaayaan gyaan xitgáay aa hal jagíyaayaan.
He got full and couldn't fly.

'Wáadluu hingáan an sáanjuudaayaan.
So, then, he just rested.

Ahljíihl uu tl' hlgúujuu jahlíis gám 'láa'anggang.
That is why it doesn't pay to be too greedy.