The Rhythm of The East by Kay Cordell Whitaker

I am going to tell you a story about the East. This is a very early story about Serpent Woman. This was the time before corn and tobacco were planted and the houses had fire to warm them. This is when huge animals and monsters shared the Earth with humans. Living was hard. They had to be very strong to survive.

One day Serpent Woman was out gathering food. Sun was just rising and making things warm again for another day. She thinks to herself that she is pretty tired of being cold and having to wait for Sun to arrive to make herself warm again. This should not have to be. Why should she and her people always have to suffer?

“Who is this Sun Person?” she thought to herself, “that He is so warm? His clothes must be like the fire in the mountain. He must be very wise. Maybe He can help me and my people.” She decides to journey and find Him. He shares His warmth and light with her whole world everyday, so He must be a pretty nice guy.

She gathers together her things and heads to the East. She meets many strange and wonderful peoples on her journey. She asks them, “Do you know where Sun’s house is built?” Nobody knows. No one has seen it. So she moves on and on. It is very dangerous and she almost dies many times.

Finally, she comes to a great water. She asks the folks there, “Do you know where Sun’s house is built?”

“Across the waters” Turtle says, “to the East. I am going there. I will take you.”

They go and go and go for days and days. Then finally, land is there. Turtle says “His house is there to the East.”

The Serpent Woman says, “Have you been there? Have you seen it?”

Turtle says “ No. But everyone knows it is down there. Go. You will find it. Many good things be for you and your people, Serpent Woman.”

She thanked Turtle for all her help. Then she walked until she came to some very high mountains covered with lots of snow. Maybe this house of Sun is up there. So up she goes.

Way high in these mountains, she meets Eagle Man. They fall in love, and he tells her where Sun’s house is. It is high up in the sky. This is a secret only eagles know, because only they can fly high enough to see it.

“Will you take me there?” Serpent Woman asks.

“No, I cannot.” Eagle Man answers. “It is too high and too far to carry anyone. Each must fly on their own. I cannot carry you, my wife, but maybe I can teach you to fly so you can go for yourself.”

“Yes,” she says. “Yes, this we must do.”

They work hard every day, and some of Eagle Man’s people say, “Who is she to try to learn to fly? She is a serpent woman. Who does she think she is! These things belong to us!”

Eagle Man says, “Do not hinder her with your thoughts. No one hindered you with their thoughts when you were learning flying. So do not hinder another with yours.” Eagle Man’s people were shamed and left them alone.

Many cycles pass and Serpent Woman learns to fly. She and Eagle Man glide through the skies together and can see their whole world beneath them. They are very happy. She is so good at flying that wings begin to grow from her sides. And one day, she is ready to travel to Sun’s house.

She says to her husband, “Will you come with me to ask Sun for some help for our peoples? You are my husband now and I do not wish to be parted from you by distance or deed.”

He says, “Of course.” He was hoping she would say this.

The journey was long and very hard. Finally, they make it. And Sun says, “Welcome, welcome. Come into my humble abode. Let me bring you refreshment. It is good to see you, Eagle Man. It has been a long time. And you, Serpent Woman. This is indeed a special honor. You are the first of your kind to make it here. What can I do for you?”

She tells Sun of her people and how they suffer, and she asks if there is anything He can do to help them stay warm, to have an easier, safer life.

Sun said, “If you want to stay a while, I will teach you many things for your people.”

So they did. Sun and His people teach them how to make fire and tools. How to grow food in the ground and how to keep animals for milk, clothes and meat. They learn to make buildings and art. And learn about dance, ritual and writing.

Serpent Woman and Eagle Man like it there very much. There is harmony and peace. Good friendships and much knowledge. It is hard for them to leave. But Serpent Woman says, “We carry things that belong to our people. We must take this to them.”

And Sun says, “Please come back again soon. We have great gifts for you and your peoples. There is so much here to share. Teach your people to fly here, too. We have lots of gifts for each of them.

Serpent Woman and Eagle Man returned and taught their peoples. And from time to time, one of them learned how to fly strong enough to fly to Sun’s house. And they always brought back gifts to their peoples from Sun and His people.