Here Comes Raven Who Sets Things Right

the story

Cool, fresh spring water, a joy to parched lips, the clear taste upon your tongue, slaking the thirst that grips your throat. There is surely nothing more essential to life, but there were days, long, long ago when people had only thirst and longing.

All, that is, apart from one greedy, bitter man named Ganook. He had his own, the only, clear, fresh spring, but would he share his good fortune? No! He built his house around it so no-one could get near that wonderful water.

Great, White Raven saw his people thirsty. Great, White Raven saw Ganook and his spring. Great, White Raven knew, time was to set things right.

Raven went to visit Ganook. It wasn’t commonplace for Ganook to receive visitors, as you can imagine he had no friends. He was glad of a companion to while away his lonely hours, so the two sat by the fire.

Little time passed before Raven asked to drink, so Ganook showed him the spring. Raven drank so deep from the spring Ganook thought his eyes would pop.

“Hey, stop! You’ll drink me dry.”

“It was just a sip”, said Raven.

The two sat back by the fire and Raven began to tell a story, such a long story, such a dull story. Ganook’s eyes began to close but Raven’s story rambled on. Now Ganook was asleep and Raven was darting for the spring but Ganook’s suspicious eye opened.

“Where are you Raven?”

“Just a short stroll”, said Raven.

Raven was back by the fire with his story droning on, and Ganook was more tired than he could remember. This time when Ganook’s eyes closed they would stay shut awhile.

Raven drank, he lifted his head back and swallowed, he shook himself to make more room, and drank again. You have never seen a bird drink so much, and for so long. He drank that spring bone dry.

But as Raven swallowed back that last drop a greedy little eye had opened and was on him. Ganook sprang to his feet and grabbed his club and he was after Raven, chasing him around the room.

Why didn’t Raven fly? Well, he was too full and he couldn’t take off. He ran and he ran on his awkward clumsy claws until he thought he could run no more. He had one last desperate flap and just managed to get into the air, but the smoke hole was the only way out and now he was so fat.

Raven struggled as the flames licked at his tail and Ganook’s club flailed around his claws until finally he escaped. But Raven wasn’t a fine white bird now, the soot and smoke had made him black as night.

Flying was difficult so full, and Raven flew a twisted path. He spurted a little water here, and there was a stream. He spat out a long ribbon there, and a river coursed on its way. None of these waterways was straight because of Raven’s crooked flight, but the people below welcomed them, full of joy.

The people drank deeply, bathed, swam and danced in the waters and sang.

“Here Comes Raven Who Sets Things Right”.

Key Stage 2 Activities

Justification

People often try to think up good reasons for doing bad things.

How do you think Ganook tried to justify keeping all the spring water for himself?

Water

Cool fresh water is very important to our lives.

Slowly go through your day and think how many uses you put water to, and how much you would miss it.

All White

Raven was singed a fine black in the story.

Can you do a picture of the white raven at the start of the story?

Feeling Sleepy

What sort of story would send you to sleep?

Try writing a short, sleepy, boring story. Try it out on your friends to see if they can stay awake.

Bonhomme! Bonhomme! / My Friend! My Friend!

Here is a call and response Chanson Québécois for you to sing. In the verses the lead voice sings line 1 and other singers repeat it (see line 2), then the lead voice sings line 3 and the other singers repeat it (see line 4). Everyone sings line 5 together. In the chorus the lead voice sings Bonhomme! or My Friend! and the other singers respond back with Bonhomme! or My Friend! (line 1 of the chorus). and everyone sings the final two lines of the chorus together.

See lyric…

My friend, my friend, can you play this?
My friend, my friend, can you play this?
Can you play this on the violin?
Can you play this on the violin?
Zing, zing, zing on the violin.