Native American Poetry: "Shaman Song" by Elizabeth Barrette

[ysabetwordsmith]

Given my reverence for nature, Native American spirituality is a good fit for me, and you can see a lot of that in my writing. The poem below originally appeared in PagaNet News. It draws on two instruments used for sacred music, the rattle and the flute, along with other motifs.

Shaman Song
by Elizabeth Barrette

Toward me the twilight comes rustling, rustling,
A vast black blanket beaded with stars:
Tall as the sky, the night approaches
With a rattle in each hand

susurrus, susurrus

Making everything sacred as it comes.

Ant-stones chatter in a Turtle shell,
Dry beans tumble in a gourd

susurrus, susurrus

Bringing dreams and visions.

Towards me the morning comes
Clear air like a flute's cry

we who, we who

The shaman darkness seeks its rest,
The rattles fall still
But I remember:

susurrus, susurrus, susurrus...

Comments

[bookblather]

The use of onomatopoeia in this is just fabulous. The shushed "susurrus" and the high, clear "we who" sound both natural and musical, made by musical instruments and nature all at once. I think that was an excellent choice.

Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

I love the sounds of things. I'm hobby-linguist enough to pay close attention to phonemes. I'm also a fan of Native American music. I've even heard it live at a few powwows and concerts. There's this idea of the sound itself as a magical force, and that's part of what I was aiming to capture -- it can facilitate altered states of consciousness. People usually think of drumming for that, but other instruments can do it too.