Read the entry note first. Not a fable — an Anishinaabe ontology carried as story. Come in to wonder.
⚠️ Draft — under many eyes. Converted and readable; not yet finally vetted, and it will wear the word draft for a good while, on purpose. Living, not final.
MEGŌS MACGĪGIMIN KAYÄ.
MEGOOS MASHKIIGIMIN GAYE.
THE AWL AND THE CRANBERRY.
Narrated by Penesi — Series 2 (Nos. 4–43), Fort William (per Jones Part II Introduction p. ix; not credited on the story page itself).
from Ojibwa Texts collected by William Jones (1919).
(1) Ningudingisa’ gīⁿwäⁿ, kī∙i∙dāwạg me’gōs macgīgimin gayä; ạgāmîndä‘kudātiwạg.
Ningoding sa giiwenh gii-daawag megoos mashkiigimin gaye; agaamindekodaadiwag.
Now, once on a time, they say, there lived an Awl and a Cranberry; they lived on opposite sides of the fire.
Ningoding sa giiwenh (now, once upon a time, they say) gii-daawag (they lived) megoos mashkiigimin gaye (an Awl and a Cranberry); agaamindekodaadiwag (they dwelt on opposite sides of the fire from each other).
(2) Mīdạc ä‘kidōwād kạnōnidiwād:
Mii dash ekidowaad ganoonidiwaad:
And this they said when they conversed together:
Mii dash ekidowaad (and this is what they said) ganoonidiwaad (as they talked with one another):
(3) “Ānin kīn kädōdạmạmbạn wī‘pinîsigōyạng?”
“Aaniin giin ge-doodamamban wii-bi-nisigooyang?”
“What would you do if some one should come to kill us?”
“Aaniin giin (what about you) ge-doodamamban (would you do) wii-bi-nisigooyang (if someone were to come to kill us)?”
(4) Mēdạc ä‘kidot megōs:
Mii dash ekidod megoos:
And then said Awl:
Mii dash ekidod megoos (and then Awl said):
(5) “Nīndāsāgidcibi∙i∙wäsa nīn.
“Nindaa-zaagijibi’iwe sa niin.
“I would indeed betake myself outside.
“Nindaa-zaagijibi’iwe sa niin (as for me, I would run out of doors).
(6) Kīnidạc, ānin kädodạmạmbạn?” īnāⁿ mạckīgimin.
Giin dash, aaniin ge-doodamamban?” inaanh mashkiigimin.
And as for you, what would you do?” she said to Cranberry.
Giin dash (and you), aaniin ge-doodamamban (what would you do)?” inaanh mashkiigimin (she said to Cranberry).
(7) “Kayänīn nindāsāgạdcibi∙i∙wä.”
“Gaye giin nindaa-zaagajibi’iwe.”
“I would also run outside.”
“Gaye giin (I too) nindaa-zaagajibi’iwe (would run out of doors).”
(8) Ningudingidạc ạnicinābän udōdisiguwān wīnisîndawa.
Ningoding dash anishinaaben odoodisigowaan wii-nisindwaa.
Now, once by some people were they visited, in order that by them they might be killed.
Ningoding dash (now once) anishinaaben odoodisigowaan (by some people they were visited) wii-nisindwaa (so that they might be killed).
(9) Mī∙i∙dạc kägä‘t wâ∙i∙jisāgidcibạ‘tōd me´gōs, mēdạc imāⁿ kipạda‘kā‘kwisäd; kāwīn ogīkạskidōsin tcîgītcigwạ‘tād.
Mii dash geget waa-izhi-zaagijibatood megoos, mii dash imaanh gii-badakaakwised; gaawiin ogii-gashkitoosiin ji-giichigwataad.
Accordingly, in truth, out of doors did Awl mean to run, whereupon she stuck into a pole; she was not able to get herself free.
Mii dash geget (and so, truly) waa-izhi-zaagijibatood megoos (as Awl meant to run out of doors), mii dash imaanh gii-badakaakwised (she stuck fast there in a pole); gaawiin ogii-gashkitoosiin (she was not able) ji-giichigwataad (to pull herself free).
(10) Kayä wīndạc mạcgigimîn, kīsāgidcibạ‘to, mēdạc imāⁿ ạgwạdcing kipāskidcīcing.
Gaye wiin dash mashkiigimin, gii-zaagijibatoo, mii dash imaanh agwajing gii-baashkijiishing.
And as for Cranberry, she ran outside, and there out of doors she burst herself.
Gaye wiin dash mashkiigimin (and as for Cranberry), gii-zaagijibatoo (she ran outside), mii dash imaanh agwajing (and there outdoors) gii-baashkijiishing (she burst herself).
(11) Mīdābîsko kīnîsididisōwād.
Mii daabishko gii-nisididisoowaad.
And so both of them killed themselves.
Mii daabishko (and so in like manner) gii-nisididisoowaad (the two of them killed themselves).
(12) Mīsa∙ⁱ∙ ä‘kōsîd.
Mii sa ekoozid.
And now that is the end (of the story).
Mii sa ekoozid (and that is the end of it).