Aajaagobiimawaaboo -- Boxelder Sap

     In the spring of the year that I was 5 years old, I discovered that the sap of the box elder tree tasted sweet.  My wise friend Billy, who was also 5 years old, said it would be even sweeter if we cooked it.  So then we cut into a low branch and let the sap drip into a coffee can.
     The next day we took the sap we had gathered and started a fire to cook it.  When Billy's dad saw the smoke, he came and beat it out with his new cap.  He then took me home and told my dad what we had done.
     I found out later that Billy got a spanking from his dad.  My dad told me that if I wanted to build a fire, I should do it with him.  I had to stay in my room for a while, but later in the day my dad and I went out in the yard, built a fire, and cooked some hot dogs.
     I've enjoyed building many safe fires since then, and finally, 60 years later, I cooked my first batch of box elder syrup.  Billy was right, it is sweeter.

Ojibwe Vocabulary for This Week.  Words for Liquids

Onjigaa                       It drips, it leaks, it runs
Mashkwawadin          It freezes                             Ningikode         It melts, it thaws

Wiishkobaagamin      It tastes sweet                      Minwaagamin  It tastes good

Dakaagamig                When the liquid is cool    Abaagamideg     When the liquid is warm
Gizhaagamideg           When the liquid is hot

Aajaagobiimawaaboo

Mii sa go ziigwang.
Mashkwawadin dibikak minawaa ningikode gigizhebaawagak.  Onjigaa sa.
Wiishkobaagamin minawaa minwaagamin.
Dakaagamig gemaa abaagamideg gemaa gizhaagamideg, aapiji sa go niminwendaan.

Box Elder Sap

It is so that it is spring.
It freezes at night and it thaws in the morning.  The sap runs.
The sap is sweet and delicious.
Whether it is cold or warm or hot, I like it a lot.

(This poem is for you, Billy)