C’etsesen – John Elvis Smelcer – Ahtna

Dahwdezeldiin’ koht’aene kenaege’,/ 

ukesdezt’aet./

Yaane’ koht’aene yaen’,/ 

nekenaege’ nadahdelna./

Koht’aene kenaege’ k’os nadestaan, 

łukae c’ena’ ti’taan’, Tez’aedzi Na’./

Sii ‘e koht’aene k’e kenaes,/ 

Sii ndahwdel’en,/

dandiil’en/ 

s’dayn’tnel’en./

The Poet – John Elvis Smelcer – Translated by Themself

I am beginning to write in our language,/ 

but it is difficult./

Only the elders speak our words,/

and they are forgetting./

There are not many words anyhow./

They are scattered like clouds,/

like Salmon in Stepping Creek/ 

at Tonsina River./

I do not speak like an Ahtna elder,/

but I hear the voice of a spirit,/

hear it at a distance/

speaking quietly to me./