Uluru
connecting with the dreamtime
tapping into the deepest well
of our collective memories
with eyes closed, I call up
the Ancestor Beings,
here when this world
began, with its
mountains and rivers
and trees,
its air and fire
and water
when their work was
complete, they
traveled back
into the earth
and slept
sometimes their spirits
stayed behind
in rocks or trees,
and these became
sacred places
Today we're in
the Dreaming -
in the Now-
the only time
the aborigines
recognize
Feel the spirits
of the Ancestors,
as you chant
to the beat
of the drum
Look quickly
across the campfire
and you might catch
their shadows,
see their kind
wisdom-eyes
Hear them say:
"Right now one
of your eyes
is sleeping,
but one of them
is awake.
When you see
with both eyes,
we will awaken
from our dreaming
to join you,
and the world
will be made new"
We need those new eyes desperately.
From 2013. Inspired by Julian Lennon's wonderful documentary Whaledreamers, a wonderful film about a gathering of aboriginal elders from all over the world, who came together at ancient headlands above the sea in Australia, where in old times, the aborigines would sing out to call in the whales, and they would come. They gathered in this spot, to perform that ceremony and, breathtakingly, in response to their eerie song, the whales came. It was uplifting, mysterious and utterly wonderful.
Random thoughts about the aborigines, the deep pain of the elders who mourn all that has been lost to their culture, and the mysterious Dreamtime, informed this poem. Tofino is situated on ley lines, and is a power spot, much like Uluru. Ancient energies are aswirl here, in this place guarded by the Nuu chah nulth people.
shared with Desperate Poets' open link
Another wonderful poem Sherry. I will look to see if that documentary is online somewhere. I worry for you and beautiful Torino at this moment. Is the wildfire getting closer to the cathedral of trees?
ReplyDeleteI love the notions of the poem that remind me to, while preparing to sleep, always think of beautiful things so we dream and both wake up with them. Beautiful write.
ReplyDeleteWhaledreamers is amazing. You will love it. The fire is still out of control, very near the cathedral of old growth, and the only highway in will be closed indefinitely as trees and rocks are falling on the road, and one bank is unstable. The back logging road was closed too as too much traffic is causing accidents, including an oil truck that tipped over into a lake (!!!) But it will re-open. Supplies can come in that way. Port Alberni is planning to bring gas and supplies in by BARGE, like the old days. People are asked not to travel the back road, but travel anyway, causing more emergencies. It brings the climate crisis close to home - and it can happen anywhere, as each summer is hotter than the last. BC is tinder dry everywhere.
ReplyDeleteTis a grief soaked piece and I fear that even the elders cannot open our eyes anymore.
ReplyDeleteSome things take fifty thousand years to learn properly -- like where to stand and what to sing when the Dreamtime is calling. I don't think we'll get there in time.
ReplyDeleteI love the one eye awake and the other dreaming. I wrote a poem about that once, called "Dissociation" and it's one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteOops, it was "Decompensation."
Delete"..when their work was
ReplyDeletecomplete, they/traveled back/into the earth/and slept.." and left it to us to try to see the meaning and carry on--sadly, we have failed them in so much. Yet this poem has hope mixed in the despair, that tho maybe never all will awake and see and heal, *enough* will. Beautiful, meaningful writing, Sherry.
Please read my post
ReplyDelete"sometimes their spirits
ReplyDeletestayed behind
in rocks or trees,
and these became
sacred places" Tofino . . . and I've felt it in the mountains, the Catskills and the Adirondacks. We are not alone, tho most act as if we were the sole inhabitants of this earth. Oh, Sherry!
Very cool.
ReplyDelete