Chapter 4 How the first rainbow was made...

"Once upon an early time,
    A Pomo couple of the land--
Arkila, Komi--in their prime,
    Hunted well, wove baskets grand.
But now the story in this rhyme 
    Tells how the two earned reprimand.

Young Komi in his hunt was lax
    And did not pray before his kill,
So we Gods sent him harsh attacks
    Of chill and fever, made him ill.
Arkila tended to his lacks;
    Then tried to win back our good will.

She wove a basket, beautiful,
    Its rim alive with colored dyes:
Blueberry, lupine, never dull,
    The green from fern to please her eyes,
With dandelion yellow full,
    Then poppy and strawberry prize.

Sun God and Rain God found this bowl
    So perfect we set one-half high
As arch of rainbow, pole to pole,
    Across the blueness of the sky;
Made Kome well; Arkil told:
    "the rest is where your child should lie."