© David Watts
Edmonton
22July 2016
In the year BC joined the East
A raven came to rest
In an Empire outpost
The New World’s west northwest;
A fledgling learned the world of words
And things they couldn’t say
With focus those around her missed
She kept them both in play …
Emily was alert
Emily was alert
The raven-child took in all she spied
In gesture, sound and word
To spread this in a potlatch
Consumed her through and through
In stark and vivid set it out
For pale would not do.
To seek a spread, a pallet-scape
Beyond cream teas and scones
To California south she soared
London, Paris, on and on
Across the Atlantic, North and East
Until she turned around
And westerly in the stratosphere
A homeward passage found
Emily was alert
Emily was alert
The raven ploughed through turbulence
Buffeted, unhurt;
To spread this in a potlatch
Propelled her through and through
In stark and vivid lay it out
Where pastel would not do.
The raven came again to loft
Along the north-west coast:
Alaska, Skidgate, Alert Bay
Where she found the most
On Cormorant Island’s Alert
Colour came through rain
As U’Mista, with Life itself
From the sea arose again.
Emily was alert
Emily was alert
Saw herself inside the mist
Of totem, tree and earth;
She wrapped it her canvas
And spread it on the ground
Life’s vividness at last to see
In all the land around. (guttural “Carr, Carr, Carr”)
