The Quickening of Haida
While watching Bill Reid’s wooden sculpture
“The Raven and the First Men”(1)
One day,
after the long and countless searches of bottom of the abysmal waters
with cycles of formation and extinction of renewed waves and ripples,
a Raven with jet-black feathers that is darker than the darkest night
brought a shellfish to Haida Gwaii(2)
the other side of the vast Continent
the west cost of the endless expanse,
where the surfs come and break upon a reef
and return to the heart of the ocean restlessly.
The Raven folded his soaking wet heavy wings
by the water’s edge that is lying in the pitch-black time and space,
and pecked on the shell with the cry:
“Let there be a light! Let it be a morn!”
Is it because the Raven’s clamorous cry woke the shellfish up
from the countless ages of deep sleep?
Or because the Raven’s blood vomiting heartrending cry
touched the shellfish? The shellfish opened its shell.
The men’s faces in the dimmest light
between the gap of the open shell
peep into the dark world though distorted
from fear of seeing unknown surroundings.
Although the light was dim
it was the light stained with a mother’s blood
the agony of childbirth, and because it was the first light
that ever shone, may it be tedious process, but little by little,
it will chisel the darkness
that was just lying there from the beginning of the time away
to bring the dawning daybreak light into the fog
and drizzle filled dismal air of Haida Gwaii.
Since the birth of first men the sun began to rise systematically
from the water of eastern horizon and downs
in the edge of western water of Haida Gwaii the beautiful islands.
And one day, in this beautiful water’s edge
where the mountains stand aloof,
the trees tall and green, and tidal waves wash the shore,
the Raven came with the wind and sat on top of a totem pole
to watch the peaceful Haida village
in the reddened setting sun.
1Bill Reid’s wooden sculpture is placed in the Museum of Anthropology of the University of Columbia.
2Haida call the Queen Charlotte Islands in British Columbia as Haida Gwaii.
Copyright © Su Ben | Year Posted 2015
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