By David Jones
WHAT IS LEFT
THE OLD WHALER
The hands of an old Alaskan whaler tell their story…
Purple veins course across his skin
swollen rivers in springtime-flood
carry life to the sundried parchment
the landscape that are this old man’s hands
curled and claw-like, they give up more
than the stories he would ever tell
these hands had gripped tight
the worn smooth haft of an iron pointed spear
felt the smoothness slide across calloused palms
as that lance would fly free
fingers to close in a vice like grip
anticipation,
as the delivery found its mark
if the Gods so favoured, then it was meant to be
raised ridges of puckered skin
barnacles on a ship too long at sea
tired scars
the harsh welts of life
dealt when lessons of life were hard
finger tips still cracked
from frosts and ice that bit
into young flesh and old flesh alike
nails, deformed
having felt the crush of heavy timbers
and tightening ropes of the haulers
as slain giants of the sea were brought ashore
as if through death they were born
into the very world of man
arthritic knuckles
domes of hot pain forged
on frozen boats
frozen sea
the frozen land that was this man’s home
now they clutch the comforting warmth of knitted stuff
a hand-made shawl
little squares of many colours
remembrance, of someone loved
About the author:
David’s working life was mostly spent in the Middle East and Asia, he was fortunate to have been in touch with different cultures: to be able to look at those cultures from (as far as possible) within that culture, a very important perspective made possible by living there, a perspective he has tried to maintain in his travels.
It is through this ‘emic’ view that he was able to, if not fully understand, to at least have a perspective through the eyes of those he was trying to appreciate.
His photography and poetry is mostly of people and cultures but also of their history, the ancient history, the story of mankind.
The basis for his writing is empathy toward the world around him, a need to speak of history, natural beauty and sadly injustice and repression, aspects of the human condition he met where he worked and lived.
David is releasing a book of photos and poetry concerning the Stolen Generations, in conjunction with this he is having a photographic exhibition in August 2023 at the Ballarat Photo Biennale.
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