Friday, May 8, 2009

Gary Snyder, born May 8 1930

Old Bones
Gary Snyder

Out there walking round, looking out for food,
a rootstock, a birdcall, a seed that you can crack
plucking, digging, snaring, snagging,

barely getting by,


no food out there on dusty slopes of scree—
carry some—look for some,
go for a hungry dream.

Deer bone, Dall sheep,
bones hunger home.


Out there somewhere
a shrine for the old ones,
the dust of the old bones,
old songs and tales.

What we ate—who ate what—
how we all prevailed.

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