Racial Memories

tome in this orkney beachstead Warm in the touch of rotting tip heat splitskinning addies onto top cook rock smart eyes closed to stinking smoke feet still wet from tidepool trapsets Wondering when will weather break tothers snore beneath the cook smoke eagle dreams of summer soarings when will I earn my right to salt the cook rock's sate with addies left splitem and fishwall the fire t' gae doon sweet in morn the gut sack's full to bait the pool time t'wash and dream and drool translation at home in this Orkney beach stead warmed by composting garbage and buried green cut grasses cleaning fish to smoke feet wet from tending tidal pool traps wondering when the storm will end while the rest sleep in the clearer below smoke dreaming of summer eagles looking to gain tribe rights the flat hot rock above the fire is full gut the remainder and stack them to cook around the fire to taste good in the morning the grass wove rock sack is full of guts to rebait the pool trap it's time to wash and dream of breakfast