POETRY
-Birth-
Ramson Lomatewama
Young corn breaks ground
showered by rays of the rising sun.
They grow in happiness,
become filled with warmth.
Silky tassels grow long,
like my hair,
in search of new beginnings.
Tomorrow,
itaha taawa*
travels the longest day.
With pipe in hand,
we await our elders
who bring rain.
*itaha taawa: my uncle, the sun
from Ramson Lomatewama's Songs to the Corn, A Hopi Poet Writes about Corn, 1997
Ramson Lomatewama
Young corn breaks ground
showered by rays of the rising sun.
They grow in happiness,
become filled with warmth.
Silky tassels grow long,
like my hair,
in search of new beginnings.
Tomorrow,
itaha taawa*
travels the longest day.
With pipe in hand,
we await our elders
who bring rain.
*itaha taawa: my uncle, the sun
from Ramson Lomatewama's Songs to the Corn, A Hopi Poet Writes about Corn, 1997
Ramson Lomatewama references so many ideas that I have mentioned in this project. For example, he mentions waiting for his elders to bring rain. From what I have explained, we know that that means he is awaiting "kachinas", ancestral spirits, to bring rain that will make life grow. It is a really big part of Hopi life to focus on the growing of corn, by being spiritually involved. As a man, it is part of Ramson's identity to be a spiritual person and to prepare the tribe for the arrival of the kachinas. I found it especially interesting that he compares the hair of the corn to his hair, emphasizing his contentedness to the earth.
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-For The White Poets Who Would Be Indian-
Wendy Rose
just once
just long enough
to snap up the words
fish-hooked from
our tongues.
You think of us now
when you kneel
on the earth,
turn holy
in a temporary tourism
of our souls.
With words
you paint your faces,
chew your doeskin,
touch breast to tree
as if sharing a mother
were all it takes,
could bring instant and primal
knowledge.
You think of us only
when your voices
want for roots,
when you have sat back
on your heels and
become
primitive.
You finish your poem
and go back.
-from Gerald Vizenor's Native American Literature, 1995-
Wendy Rose's poem reflects the struggle of many modern Hopi, by painting with words how it feels to have your identity morphed over time continuously. For the White Poets Who Would Be Indian is about how white people, specifically American white poets, think that they can simply identity with a culture, just by learning about it or studying it. As I have done this project, as a white American, I have realized that there certainly is something lacking in my culture compared to a culture such as the Hopi, but that doesn't mean that I can claim to truly understand it.
Wendy Rose explains that a "temporary tourism of the soul" is not the equivalent to the experiences of a real Hopi, whose true identity is Hopi. Without having that identity, there is no way to be able to claim to understand certain things. There is a difference is knowing about a culture and living as a part of a culture everyday. Wendy Rose, herself, is not fully Hopi, so she does struggle with her "search for Hopi roots" (Vizenor, 1995). Knowing her personal struggle makes it easier to understand her frustration with the audience in her poem. This poem was one that I read early in this semester, and it really impacted the way that I have worked on this project. Reading Rose's words "You think of us only when your voice wants for roots" was something that shaped my studying and the way I attempted to portray Hopi culture in this project. It has been a fear of mine that, coming from a somewhat substance-less culture, I would accidentally become under the impression that it was okay to identify with a culture like the Hopi's, just because they are native to my country, and I do not know my origins. Wendy Rose explains that attitudes like this are disrespectful and show a certain amount of misunderstanding. I have learned a lot more by viewing things with her poetry in mind. |
-Hopi Cookery-
Juanita Tiger Kavena
Even though "Hopi Cookery" is a cook book, I found that it still had a lot of relevance to the religious topics discussed on this website. As mentioned in other sections, blue corn is a major symbol of Hopi religion and Hopi life. It is used in ceremonies and has also been a food they have used for survival. Juanita's cookbook uses symbolic food items such as blue corn, but also many other traditional Hopi food items. For many cultures, the food they eat can reflect a large truth about them and I find this especially true for the Hopi tribe.
Even just considering the role of family life and gender in the Hopi culture, food plays a major role. A Hopi woman spends a lot of time preparing and grinding corn, especially blue corn. Many Hopi still use traditional methods of grinding corn even though other new methods are also used. Because of the constant influence of food in Hopi life, Juanita's cookbook works as a reflection of those beliefs and traditions. Below I have included an excerpt from "Hopi Cookery" that further explains my point.
"Hopis like to entertain their friends, and serving food is a fundamental expression of Hopi hospitality. In fact, many a conflict has been averted by serving refreshments to the angry parties and giving them a chance to cool their tempers. Fruit and cornmeal drinks, Hopi tea, and corn tortillas are some of the traditional foods that are served, but even such treats as these are being put aside for the Anglo sweet pastries and drinks. Hopi corn puddings and breads, and roasted game meats are served when visitors come for a feast." (Kavena, 1980)
Even just considering the role of family life and gender in the Hopi culture, food plays a major role. A Hopi woman spends a lot of time preparing and grinding corn, especially blue corn. Many Hopi still use traditional methods of grinding corn even though other new methods are also used. Because of the constant influence of food in Hopi life, Juanita's cookbook works as a reflection of those beliefs and traditions. Below I have included an excerpt from "Hopi Cookery" that further explains my point.
"Hopis like to entertain their friends, and serving food is a fundamental expression of Hopi hospitality. In fact, many a conflict has been averted by serving refreshments to the angry parties and giving them a chance to cool their tempers. Fruit and cornmeal drinks, Hopi tea, and corn tortillas are some of the traditional foods that are served, but even such treats as these are being put aside for the Anglo sweet pastries and drinks. Hopi corn puddings and breads, and roasted game meats are served when visitors come for a feast." (Kavena, 1980)