Without season, how does the community keep time in the giver?

The prefix of the italicized word in the sentence is rather difficult

What is one possible theme for the poem forgetfulness

That alligator hungry. vittles very scarce that time a season. his belly be pinchin him hard, now. but bruh deer is fat, and so he is in heavy trouble. the alligator there in front of him. the beagles there behind him. what bruh deer gone do? he sees the alligator and he hears the beagles. how does the author readers understand what the word pinchin means?