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From Shaking the Pumpkin - Jerome Rothenberg
Overview
This song-poem originates from the Seneca tribe and is chanted to begin their tribe's ceremonial season of rebirth called I'dos. The poem was transcribed by Jerome Rothenberg and was written and formatted in a way to exemplify the dynamic and rhythmic nature that the chanted oral piece provides. Much of the piece uses some of the sounds in the chant that are not words at all but are used for effect to create an audible flow and is used as a refrain to frame the rest of the song.
Context
This song-poem originates from the oral chants of the Senecan tribe. Traditionally, this was a specific songs sung by ceremonial leaders called hajaswas. Hajaswas sang these chants to begin the cycle of renewal the tribe called “I'dos” or “Onöndowa’ga:’ Gawë:nö׳” in the Senecan language. Onöndowa’ga:’ Gawë:nö׳ is translated to “Language of the People of the Great Hills.” I'dos is also translated to “Shaking the Pumpkin” and “The Society of the Mystic Animals.” Often Senecan poetry does not make use of words at all, but rhythmic chanting sounds that are not found in Seneca language.
Commentary
Bibliography
“A Conversational Seneca Language Page.” Seneca Language, 26 Aug. 2021, https://senecalanguage.com/. Responsive Website Design by Michael Rose http://www.rosemconsulting.com. “Seneca Indian Tribe.”
The Seneca Indian Tribe - Member of the Iroquois Nation, http://www.indians.org/articles/seneca-indian-tribe.html.
Responsive Website Design by Michael Rose http://www.rosemconsulting.com.
“Seneca Indian Tribe.” The Seneca Indian Tribe - Member of the Iroquois Nation, http://www.indians.org/articles/seneca-indian-tribe.html.
“Seneca People.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Feb. 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seneca_people.
