Forgotten Ground Regained
The Talisman
"Summer was longer, the sun warmerwhen the barley-eaters · built their barrows,"said the seal-stalker, toothlessly smiling."Godhavn, their helmsmen · named this harborwhen longboats rode · through open water.As for the raven, they called him hrefn.I eat bone marrow, blood and whale meat,so I know nothing · but names for snow."
In a tattered tent · the red-haired trekkerstared at the soapstone · unwrapped from a rag.Bear cubs basked · on a blue whale's backand salmon soared · over a skua.Hewn by the hand · of an idle hunter,narwhals twined · with the Talelayowhose severed fingers · fluttered like fishesor dreams drawn · from the depths of a stone.
Copyright © Timothy Murphy, 1999.
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