19 February 2008

Writer's Island 2/19/08 Time Travel


Lithic

by Constance


Pot sherds scattered through

the site, spiral petroglyphs

etched on basalt. Burned

rock refuse among the midden.

Too early for post molds, late

for Clovis, the leaf-shaped,

fluted points place us in Folsom.

The debitage yields a mass of flint

flakes, a few blades. Survey

discovers a rock cairn, leading

to an abrupt cliff several miles

away. ............................Buffalo jump.

In the pit— dart, spear, arrow tips,

knives, and bones, layers and levels

of bison bone, exposed, twenty

feet deep. When my spirit leaps

from my body, let my material

remains rest among the relics

of the past, and become an integral

part of the plains stratigraphy.



12 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is excellent. It does take me back in time.

Crafty Green Poet said...

I like the idea of resting among the relics of the past. I also really like your use of the space before Buffalo jump.

Constance Brewer said...

Brian - thanks!

Constance Brewer said...

crafty green poet - if you got to rest somewhere, might as well provide inspiration to future archaeologists. *g*
It's hard to get Blogger to deal with spaces in poetry. My Buffalo jumped a little too far, but it was better than the alternative.

anthonynorth said...

Loved this. It warns, from the past, that we must have reverence for such relics.

Constance Brewer said...

anthonynorth- Hey, I just want them to find my bones in the future and wonder about them. *g* Providing mystery for future generations!

Gabriele Campbell said...

I want my body to be burned and the ashes strewn into the Baltic Sea. It's not fair to the archaeologists, but I just don't want anything of me to remain.

Except maybe my writing. :)

And without grave gifts, burial places have become half as much fun.

Constance Brewer said...

Aw, come on Gabriele, don't you want to provide a conundrum for future generations? :)

Carla said...

Really excellent, Constance!

Constance Brewer said...

thank you very much Carla, glad you liked it.

Joyce Ellen Davis said...

A really fine poem! Loved the pics, too.

Constance Brewer said...

pepektheassassin- Thanks!