The poem "Nata Anziana" (Born Ancient), in my 1993 book, Radical Food,
for show in Vienna with Christine Jones curating, that tells that story ... here's the
poem:
nata anziana
I speak as skywoman
long ago ooma-oo
beings unlike us
never to be confused
as us
tree of light
as are treeeeeees of life
(Odin's, Maya's, Sun Dance,
Garden of Eden, Kaballa,
the tree's 'the way' dao)
I pass test of corngrinding
of fire splashcooking
of tongue licking wounds
I so love tree of light I
lie down under
open legs blossom falls
touches
am pollinated ...
he weakens
uproots the tree of light
eads me to jump
blue sky world below
this tree over such a place!
I forget place of home
place of origin
forget coming going
to begin
to end
Waterfowl Beaver Turtle
live in this emptiness this
falling through void |
watch long long time
slow my endless
fall
I slow I sleep I dream
they help me
move as I must
move now spin slow...
I hop
chant dance
four circuits filled
stillness
no thought no memory no dream
I crouch down
spread legs
slowly withdraw
slender stalk
long pull long
breathe it dry
wait
tamp it into
Turtle's earthback
I sing
layers branches
chant balls of light
it blossoms I wake
to my daughter
in the treelight...
aeons after
daughter also nata anziana
born like this |