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
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