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Painted Cave
Bats navigate by sounding
depths and shallows
call and response
the dark ship configures
a lighthouse
it goes both ways
this line conjured an aurochs
here is the hump-backed echo of its response.
Last edited by Christine98, Sep/26/2013, 4:47 pm
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Jul/11/2013, 9:19 am
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Re: Painted Cave
Good poem! I like the link across time and species. It reminds me of one of mine, although mine is a little more prosaic.
Lascaux
(the Aurochs precedes the Lamb)
The mystery of the early dark,
the secret of the caves,
altar to the fear of not surviving.
What purpose these tinted beasts,
these invisible creatures seen only
in the fire light of the spirit
and imagination?
A token to the animal gods,
tithe to the hunt?
A prayer to the bear for good luck?
I don’t think so, no. These beasts
were painted with the pigments
of humility, of gratitude and wonder,
the suppression of hunger,
with the colors of guilt and regret,
after dinner.
Copyright 2010 – Ponds and Lawns: New and Corrected Poems, Gary B. Fitzgerald
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Jul/11/2013, 8:30 pm
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Re: Painted Cave
hi Gary,
thanks for your comment...something about those
cave paintings. Thanks for posting your poem too,
Chris
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Jul/12/2013, 8:12 am
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Re: Painted Cave
Thank you for your great poem, Chris.
Oddly enough, the singular for the beast is 'Aurochs', with the 's'. My brother (the Ph.D) had to correct me on this and I actually had to go back to the publisher and get it corrected. Very frustrating since I know more about animals than my brother, the historian, ever did. Oh, well. Live and learn.
"...something about those cave paintings."
Yes, they are the embryonic memories of civilization...of all of us.
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Jul/13/2013, 7:02 pm
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Re: Painted Cave
Thanks Gary, I'll correct the spelling, embryonic memories is a nice way to put it. Happy Sunday!
Chris
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Jul/14/2013, 7:51 am
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Re: Painted Cave
Chris,
There is something about those cave paintings, isn't there? It must be breath-taking seeing them in person, but even from film and photographs, they have a haunting, mysterious quality. It's that quality your poem goes after and captures.
"call and response"
"it goes both ways"
What a wonderful way to express the timelessness one's feels, almost like an altered state of consciouness, when looking at the paintings.
Last edited by Katlin, Jul/15/2013, 11:19 am
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Jul/15/2013, 11:19 am
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Re: Painted Cave
Thanks Kat, I was after that quality, but wasn't at all confident I captured it,
Chris
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Jul/15/2013, 1:34 pm
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