Thanks to Interviewing The Caribbean journal for publishing Petroglyphs in the 2nd Issue of Volume 6. Both issues of Volume 6, contain tributes to Kamau Brathwaite CHB 1930-2020, in celebration of his life. Copies are available here. The latest version of the poem is below.
Petroglyphs
For Kamau Brathwaite RIPE 11.05.1930 to 4.02.2020
That day you & I waded down rivers,
barely speakin at all, across our island’s
cow pastors in search of petroglyphs:
Ancient graffiti; tattootalk conundrums—we were
Sankofa-bird seekers, scanning smooth boulders
for communication origins recorded on stone.
After, I thought about the Babel-ed marks my tribe
was leaving; myopic, egoic, prolific progress clue-
lessly stamped over our natural metaphors—
coptic concrete trails for children, to lead
them far from Sin ful roots of too-hard-work
& trauma’s energy silent still in sea and soil.
I cannot tell you what the rock carvings said
or if there were any to be heard at all; secrets
& buried treasures stay right-time preserved.
But searches together, tunin in for wisdom played from
our past, may evolve a more intelligible logos. I heard
a neighbour nearly hung-up their petroglyphs for planes.
Listen : All this is unsettlin;
unknown, at times silent
sound; language it
No Comments