The Dancing Bulrushes

by Alan Nafzger & Lilly Tabbytite (Comanche)

The Bulrushes that Dance

Coyote was walking along when he heard the sound of a fantastic dance. "Oh, this is wonderful," Coyote thought. I'll attend the dance. I am one of the best dancers in the world, and they will be delighted to have me."

So Coyote hurried on until he came across a large crowd dancing on the shore of a lake, and he joined in. "I'm a fantastic dancer," Coyote said. "You'll be happy to have me." Coyote was preoccupied with his own dance and paid no attention to the others.

They danced furiously all day, back and forth, waving their arms. They danced all night, without stopping, bending, swaying, or moaning. When dawn finally arrived, Coyote could barely lift his feet and secretly wished the dance was over.

As the sun rose higher in the sky, Coyote realized he hadn't been dancing with people at all. He found himself standing in the middle of a bulrush field.