Photo by Bjorn Rudberg; Used with permission, All Rights Reserved
Can you hear our war
cry as we went into
battle that day?
Those cries too are
wedged into the cracks
and crevices of the
rocks that surrounded
our homes and dotted
the beaches nearby.
We watch from the trees
and peer over your
shoulders as you
examine our carvings.
We are amused at
the meanings that you
interpret out of our
simple figure drawings.
You speak of mythology
and religions that we may
or may not have practiced.
Is it not clear?
Can you not see?
We fished and hunted,
warred and protected.
We had fine boats that
served us well.
We loved and had families
who needed to eat, stay
warmed and clothed.
We used the fertile land
that we settled and
cultivated. We died
and were born. Some
liked to depict our lives
on these stones and rocks.
One day I saw one of
you dig up my bronze ax
that I always carried with me.
We were a strong clan.
Is it not clear?
Can you not see?
Bjorn Rudberg shares photos of rock carvings and asks us to share a sense of what they are telling us. Meet us over at dVerse Poets. http://dversepoets.com/2015/10/13/dverse-poetics-carved-in-stone/
Bodhirose's Blog 
mukul chand
/ October 12, 2015Great Poem. Nice pic too.
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Bodhirose
/ October 28, 2015I’m sorry I missed this earlier. Thanks so much!
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mukul chand
/ October 28, 2015welcome
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Björn Rudberg (brudberg)
/ October 13, 2015Oh yes.. I think it’s so easy to interpret too much into those carvings.. I like the thought of having them being giggling ghosts in the trees… probably they were less different from us than we want to think…
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Bodhirose
/ October 13, 2015I would say so too, Bjorn. I think we can get way too analytical and read too much into their lives.
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Mary
/ October 13, 2015Ah, I like your approach, Gayle! Very clever. I do wonder what they would think of our interpretations of their carvings. I like the way your poem got inside their lives a bit, gave us the basic flavor of what their life was about.
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Bodhirose
/ October 13, 2015Thanks, Mary! I couldn’t go further than basic. I whittled their lives down to reflect that they had the basic needs and desires as we do today.
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Grace
/ October 13, 2015I admire the unique perspective Gayle, of those ancients looking back at us, wondering if we do hear their war cries and understand their simple lives ~ I doubt if we can ever understand what it means to have a strong clan, to respect their valuables and tools ~
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Bodhirose
/ October 13, 2015Thank you, Grace. No, we may never understand how their lives depended greatly on the strength of their clan and their important tools.
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Glenn Buttkus
/ October 13, 2015Anthropology is guess work too, not just carbon dating & science; but hey, I dig your levity because even an educated guess is spitting in the winds of antiquity. Always reminds me of when Mike Nichols was asked about the symbolism in THE GRADUATE: “I didn’t put symbolism into it. If you find some, enjoy it.”
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Bodhirose
/ October 13, 2015Ha! I loved Mike Nichols’ response to the “symbolism” in The Graduate. And how true, a lot of anthropology is guesswork, which I find very interesting. We all can make up stories…which is just what we did today! Thanks, Glenn.
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MarinaSofia
/ October 13, 2015As an anthropologist, I have to admit I do often feel the dangers of over-interpretation. I liked this tongue-in-cheek demythologising approach…
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Bodhirose
/ October 13, 2015I had no idea you were an anthropologist, Marina. What an interesting line of work. Yes, it was tongue-in-cheek, and just how will we ever really know the truth?
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kanzensakura
/ October 13, 2015I like this perspective. When in University voraciously studying anthropology and archaeology, I learned how much is based on speculation. Oddly, my first thought when looking at this was people flying kites, LOL. My brain said that though I figured they were getting ready for battle and brandishing weapons. Great work!
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Bodhirose
/ October 13, 2015It really hadn’t occurred to me how much is speculation but really when you are discovering artifacts from cultures long gone and you’re trying to piece the puzzles together, much of that would be taking place.
Funny that you saw kite flying, Toni, haha,..nope that was not on my radar. 🙂 I was intrigued by those crosses on their middles though…shields? They were a long, lean people weren’t they?!
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Sanaa Rizvi
/ October 13, 2015Love this approach! I can hear the faint battle cries……
Beautifully executed 🙂
Lots of love,
Sanaa
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Bodhirose
/ October 13, 2015Thank you, Sanaa. I tried to get in their heads a little bit. 🙂
Lots of love,
Gayle
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Hannah Gosselin
/ October 13, 2015Oh, yes! So clear. I can see. I love the way you frame these characteristics of human beingness.
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Bodhirose
/ October 13, 2015Thank you, Hannah. I think they were much like the human being-ness of today. 🙂
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5h2o
/ October 13, 2015Love this. I love the conversation and self -righteousness you suggest.
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Bodhirose
/ October 13, 2015Thank you! I didn’t even realize that I had given my “speaker” a self righteous tone…but maybe he does. 🙂
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5h2o
/ October 13, 2015Well, perhaps just proud. 🙂
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Bodhirose
/ October 13, 2015Yeah, I like that…proud. 😉
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Truedessa
/ October 13, 2015I think the ancient ones would be pleased to know that we still look at their carvings and try to understand their ways and times.
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Bodhirose
/ October 14, 2015I would agree with that…for sure.
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katiemiafrederick
/ October 14, 2015Hmm.. just my opinion.. but
i can’t imagine a group
of men dancing with
weapons and
erect phalluses
if there is no
deeper realm
of trance dance
involved.. but of course
that has little to nothing
to do with modern cultures
and religions.. as that is
considered savage and
not real.. what
an oxymoron
that is..
smiles..
and truly
sad as yes..
i know precisely
what they are doing
as i DO still do it NOW..
and can fullY relate to iT..
as pictures tale a story
much greater
than words
ever
will
when
real men
and women
do live as free..
and OBTW i do
have a college degree
in Anthropology.. so it’s
not all just opinion.. either..
and ha!.. it wasn’t kosher
to discuss THE TRANCE
DANCE ASSOCIATION
OF erect MALE phalluses
then either.. of course.. so
real LIFE experience NOW
is still the
best
teacher
in THAT TOO..
THOSE FOLKS
ARE MUCH
SMARTER IN
REAL THAN
MOST PEOPLE
ARE TODAY
IN WHAT
REALLY counts
in mind and body balance..
H U M A N F R E E D O M..
at least that’s what the
art tales me now
in my real life
educated
opinon..
of course..
and truly it’s far beyond
either the experience or
understanding of about
99% of western world
ways of
being..
sadly..
i for
one
see.. too… now
still.. i’m afraid.. as LIFE…:)
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Bodhirose
/ October 14, 2015Thanks for your very comprehensive comment, Katie. I didn’t see these people as dancing like you did, but hey, why not! And you’re right perhaps those are erect phalluses too. I would think though that if you’re an anthropologist and you find what look like carvings of erect phalluses then it would be very kosher to discuss that too. How could you not? Just ignore the obvious? Maybe that’s what I did…ha! Isn’t it interesting how we all can perceive something different while looking at the same thing…
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katiemiafrederick
/ October 14, 2015Smiles.. Bodhirose.. i receive my degree in ‘1984’.. no pun intended hehe.. in a still very repressed area of the country then.. and still now.. in someways.. sadly enough.. but no.. the discussion of the phallus in modern Anthropology is not off the table.. in at least books these days.. and certainly not off the table on the Internet as a resource today as well..
But seriously.. there has been a mind and body divide in general.. in most western religions.. culture.. and even science too.. as the mind has been elevated as somehow superior over the human body.. and oh my goodness repression and or oppression of our human nature in ways of human sensuality and emotionality is a major if not THE MAJOR source of all human suffering and misery.. including propensities toward aggression and violence..
Our closest primate cousin the Bonobo uses sensuality and sexuality to avoid aggression and violence in comparison to the raping.. pillaging chimpanzee.. and not surprisingly.. to me.. Bonobos are almost violence and killing free as compared to human beings.. so yeah.. perhaps the Free Love movement of the 60’s is not too far off from our innate and instinctual ancestral way of matriarchal free love ways of being.. as still.. our overall propensity.. FREE…
Anthropology suggests humans have moved from very socially cooperative free loving matriarchal societies in balance with nature.. to controlling patriarchal ways of repressing and oppressing human nature in ways of physicality.. emotionality.. sensuality.. and yes sexuality as well.. making the most natural of human propensities even illusory fears of evil as a ticket to an imaginary eternity in hell as well.. where in general.. the human phallus becomes evil…
Illusory fears are always the sticks that control humans.. and true nature freedom has zero to do with illusory fears.. the human phallus once a tool of Love and all of human creativity as expressed in human art.. in so-called primitive ancient societies has been replaced as a tool of power and something to fear by the opposite sex.. and same sex as well..
But times are changing.. ‘Mother’ Nature..
sMiLEs.. and human nature..
will ultimately
have
‘her’
way..
And ‘she’ IS.. as humans once again
become free and no longer
fear the phallus..
haha.. for me it’s hilarious and sad..
And from a cultural Anthropological
perspective the female twerk and
the popularity of the
Movie Magic
Mike and new dance hall
women dominated Bootie
dances is evidence
that the tide is slowly
turning back to
human
sanity
once again..
Smart is as Smart does..
when the ‘folks’ chopped off
the phalluses in ‘Art of Apollo’
is somewhere about when the
real human insanity starts.. but
hey.. it is what it is.. culture can
get smart or dumb.. let’s hope it
continues to gain balance and
not go TOO FAR.. in one way
or the other.. it takes practice..
to get it
just
correct.. for the individual
and society as a whole..
I have degrees in Social
Sciences Interdisciplinary
and Health Science along
with the Anthropology
degree back in 1983..
but with that no
way to make
a living
then.. so i work for
the government but no..
i never stopped being an
Anthropologist.. Sociologist..
Psychologist.. and additionally
Philosopher and Health Nut.. THAT
is what i do now that i am financially
independent just for fun.. full-time..
and that for me..
is freedom my friend..
and i appreciate you allowing
me to share it.. sadly
some folks do not
understand how
important
the
phallus still is
as a tool of Love
and human Creativity..
and not power or fear..
i am a phallus pioneer..
when it comes to
religion
again
and philosophy too..
and yes.. art as well..
it sounds funny but it is
core to human health and
well being to get the balance
AGAIN..:)
And in general society will suggest
i am insane to do this.. expected of course
by an Anthropologist like me.. but yeah..
i am living in Heaven.. so what the Hell..
NO HELL
FOR ME..;)
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Bodhirose
/ October 14, 2015I know very well about those Bonobos. I think their motto is “make love, not war”…truly they are the 60s hippies of the animal kingdom. 🙂 They are a free and easy bunch those Bonobos. I think our culture is so interesting because, in my opinion, many feign an almost Victorian public attitude about sex but behind closed doors, they’re living quite an opposite lifestyle. I would much rather people be upfront and real about themselves instead of false modesty and prudishness. And I would agree with you about the importance of those phalluses…very important “tool” of love and the continuation of our species. 🙂
So happy you are living in your heaven, Katie! I support you entirely!
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katiemiafrederick
/ October 14, 2015Smiles.. it’s nice to have friends like you my friend wise and true..:)
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Bodhirose
/ October 14, 2015Smiles… I’m honored. 🙂
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katiemiafrederick
/ October 14, 2015🙂
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Sumana Roy
/ October 14, 2015you did make us see their life of simplicity with your strong lines…a beautiful visualization of ancient art…
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Bodhirose
/ October 14, 2015Thank you, Sumana. Aren’t those carvings fascinating?
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Polly
/ October 14, 2015Love the pragmatism here, Gayle, yet it is an artistic interpretation too…
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Bodhirose
/ October 14, 2015I tend to interpret things pretty literally I think but do try and stretch myself. Thanks, Polly!
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kaykuala h
/ October 14, 2015They all led a good life. But we took them to be primitive and deprived. How so mistaken we made ourselves think that way!
Hank
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Bodhirose
/ October 14, 2015I agree, Hank. We “cultured” people sure like to project our limited ideas on the ones who came before us.
Gayle
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georgeplace2013
/ October 14, 2015It all boils down to having enough to eat, shelter, love, family and friendship no matter the era. Nice insight in your poem.
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Bodhirose
/ October 14, 2015I would think that we sure had that in common with all of the peoples that came before us. And thanks for your compliment…I appreciate it.
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Mama Zen
/ October 14, 2015I love this!
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Bodhirose
/ October 14, 2015I love when you love my writings!
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Lorna's Voice
/ October 14, 2015Sometimes these vestiges of the past are too simple for our modern brains to comprehend–an irony if ever there was one!
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Bodhirose
/ October 14, 2015Yes, we really prefer to overanalyze, complicate, and discuss things endlessly and get nowhere! And I’m not kidding either!
I’m so very happy to see you venturing out again, Lorna. I hope this means that you are feeling a bit better these days my friend. Hugs to you!
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Lorna's Voice
/ October 15, 2015Hugs right back, Gayle. Yes, feeling a bit better and tired of waiting not to be tired. 😉
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