That ancient nomenclature
welling up from the oldest hearts
to pool and puddle
into the dripping
past
gathered together in a quivering
huddle
they watch, fixated
as firelight reveals dust covered fingers
tracing the ochre outlines of men
and of great beasts
running, leaping
upon the stone surface
of a smoky cave
until the night one shaggy figure
croaked “Aladlammu!”
and suddenly
gods peered down
from their seats
among the many stars
and made the people tremble.
© Erik Hansen 2020
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