James Koller: Sioux Metamorphoses, transcreation after Frances Densmore

[The death of James Koller in December brought with it the memory of his vigorous presence in the years we knew him – at first in Santa Fe, New Mexico, during the initial heady days of ethnopoetics & later with the Franco Beltrametti circle in Switzerland & in his own home & hideaway in the woods of Maine.  As a poet & performer, but also as editor & publisher of Coyote’s Journal & Coyote Books, he carried with him a special view of poetry that reached into areas of myth & ecology, but on one occasion at least a poet’s ear for how indigenous song could be translated into a spoken & written poetry that was, like its original, at once accessible & marvelous.  I included the following transcreations based on Frances Densmore’s equally marvelous translations in Shaking the Pumpkin – the aboriginal poetry transformed by him to poetry again.  What I learned from him there & elsewhere comes back full force to me now in the shadow of his passing. (J.R.)]

(1st Set)

1.

He was an old wolf, no teeth, his tail all but bare.  The war party thought he was one of them, singing with a young man’s voice, until they saw him.  He lay beside their fire, and they cut up their best buffalo meat for him, fed it to him.  He taught them this song, and always since they carry their medicine in a wolfskin bag.

With powers you know nothing about

I made them come to life
with powers you cannot understand
I made them walk

Wolf people

With spirit powers

I made them walk
with spirit powers
I made them walk
with spirit powers
I made them walk
with spirit powers
I made them walk

2.

Everybody was there, but they heard somebody singing.  One of them climbed the hill and looked over.  A wolf was sitting there, looking far off and singing.  The war party learned his song.

At day break

I go
I gallop
I go

At daybreak

I go
I trot
I go

At daybreak

I go
timidly
I go

At daybreak

I go
cautiously
I go

3.

I dreamed I came to a wolf den.  Only the little wolves were there.  They were singing this song.

Father is away somewhere

will come home howling

Mother is away somewhere

will come home howling

Father is away somewhere

a buffalo calf in his belly

Mother is away somewhere

will come home howling

Now she returns

in a sacred manner she returns

4.

I thought I was a wolf
but the owls are hooting
& I’m afraid of the dark

I thought I was a wolf

but I’m so hungry
I’m tired from just standing

I am a wolf

I go to many places
I’m just tired of that one

 

           (2nd Set)

I thought I saw buffalo
& called out
I thought I saw buffalo
& called out
let them be buffalo

They were blackbirds
I walked toward them
& they were blackbirds

I thought I saw buffalo
& called out
I thought I saw buffalo
& called out
let them be buffalo

They were swallows
I walked toward them
& they were swallows


         (3rd set)

1.
In wild flight

I sent the swallows
in wild flight
I made them go
in wild flight
before the clouds were gathered

In wild flight

I sent my horse
in wild flight
a swallow flying running
in wild flight
before the clouds were gathered

2.
My horse flies along
I wear blue earth & brown
I make myself fly along
I make my horse fly along
I make myself fly along
I have done it

3.

When I was courting
they told me
I had no horses
so I’m looking

Crow, Crow

watch your horses
they say I’m a horse thief

Keep your eyes open

I’m wandering around anyway
I might as well look for horses

Night is different

than day
may my horses be many

 

          (4th Set)

1.

He comes from the north
he comes to fight
he comes from the north
see him there

I throw dust on me

it changes me
I am a bear
when I go to meet him

2.

Send word, bear father
send word, bear father
I’m having a hard time
send word, bear father
I’m having a bad time

3.

My paw is holy
herbs are everywhere
my paw
herbs are everywhere

My paw is holy

everything is holy
my paw
everything is holy