Tsenacommacah

[Atehequa]

From the Chesapeake up to the fall line
Along the Powhatan, Pamunkey, Rappahannock and Patawomeck
Eagles, ospreys and keen-eyed hawks
Gulls, pelicans, tall sharp beaked blue herons and egrets
Fishing, hunting, swooping down with lightning speed
Deer, elk, turkey and numerous covies of quail
Silently stalked by those ever preying upon them
The panther, wolf and tribes of resourceful people
In Tsenacommacah they lived, hunted and farmed
Near the creek mouths their lodges stood
Feasting, starving, making their fires and raiding
Living through both lean and fat seasons
Around their fires, a simple yet efficient society
Natural, spiritual, each with worth and mindful voices
And around that fire, other speakers waited
Until all the day’s important news concludes
Lately there had been fearful words regarding
Raiding parties of Massawomeck and Monacan
There was also talk of large spotted ghost cats
And from the south, news of great winged canoes
Carrying men with bodies that reflected the sun
They warred on the Weapemeock with their thunder
The same great winged canoes seen by the Accomack
One moon ago across the wide Chesapeake
News of this put fear upon the people’s faces
And all eyes turned to the medicine woman
Although having seen her share of cold winters
She rose from her reed mat rather gracefully
Strange dark eyes regarding all present
Framed by a wrinkled tattooed face
The fire danced wildly in those strange eyes -
“Dark days ahead for Tsenacommacah”

[dadio]

Fine capture of a very good theme.

[Atehequa]

Thank you dadio

These were taken by my wife while we visted this brackish creek mouth where there once were camps and villages, some dating back several thousand years. Along these banks one can come across pre-Cloumbian oyster shell middens, pottery shards along with stone projectile points and tools.