Click on poem to see .pdf
78 in a series of 99 neo-barroco haibun written after Ramón Gomez de la Serna. This one inspired by E. Richard Atleo’s book Tsawalk: A Nuu-chah-nulth Worldview. The holistic way of thinking seems to be so natural in my own thought, yet I know there is much that has addled my way of being in the world thanks to the industry-generated-culture in which I live. Just existing in it requires some level of facility and, in many ways, that is antithetical to the kind of unity and interconnectedness I sense in the Tsawalk approach.
I feel very fortunate to have interviewed Richard Atleo and, as always, welcome your thoughts about this poem.
Hi Paul,
Such important themes! I can sense the spiritual adventure in this poetry – when I visited Chief Sealth’s grave and meditated a few years ago, I heard his voice speaking, he said ,” You must Care for the Land.” I wonder if you were supposed to get lost in the Olympics, in the good way, to be shaken by the immensity, the primacy of it. And get rescued by angels so you can write these poems 😉
Hola!
Blackbird
Carol,
You’re very kind to say this, thank you. I believe the Lost in the Woods sage was an unintentional vision quest, yes. I’d like to see that spot again before I die, the place where I stayed for several days awaiting a helicopter.