Introduction-E

“Irngutarjuapiga nauk?”
Where is my dear grandchild?
Alexina Kublu
“anaanattiaq unikkaaqtualaurit”
“Grandmother, tell a once-upon-a-time story.”
“unikkaaqtuaksaqajjannginnama sinnaksaapilirit
qappaksaapilirit”
“I don’t have a story to tell you; just go to sleep.”
“anaanattiaq unikkaaqtualaurit”
“Grandmother, tell a once-upon-a-time story.”
“asuguuq unikkaaqtuaksaqajjannginnama sinnaksaapilirit
qappaqsaapilirit”
“As I told you, I don’t have a story to tell you, so just go to sleep.”
“anaanattiangilaak unikkaaqtualaurit”
“Grandmother, once again, tell a once-upon-a-time story.”
“haa-avinngalaaraaluit, haa-miqquqanngittualuit,
“Haa, creepy hairless baby lemmings,
haa-qumiiktajuuraaluit, haa-qariaraarjungmit
Haa, who want to burrow next to your skin,
haa-katagalaa&&aliraangata, haa-quinangna&&aqpaput”
Haa, which, when they fall from the guest bunk, cause a lot of ticklish squeamishness.”
aa tu tu tu tu tu tu
“tiuq” irngutarjuapinga tiuq&uni kangikkut pikiaqpuq.
With a ‘tweet’ the grandchild went out through the air hole.
“irngutarjuapiga nauk? irngutarjuapiga nauk?”
“Where is my grandchild? Where is my grandchild?”
188 Introduction to the Oral Traditions