The Paintings at Lascaux
By the time they painted walls,
techniques had been perfected.
Essences of bull and bison,
stag and horse, illuminate
the stony underground.
Where are the practices,
the learning curves's
discarded evidence?
What was the impetus
that drove the lost utensils,
explored alternative pigments,
brought the painters
and their tools again and again,
erected scaffolding to reach
the high regions of the cave space?
Though articulate, the images
tell us only what we see
in our contemporary light.
Everything else is silence.
techniques had been perfected.
Essences of bull and bison,
stag and horse, illuminate
the stony underground.
Where are the practices,
the learning curves's
discarded evidence?
What was the impetus
that drove the lost utensils,
explored alternative pigments,
brought the painters
and their tools again and again,
erected scaffolding to reach
the high regions of the cave space?
Though articulate, the images
tell us only what we see
in our contemporary light.
Everything else is silence.
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Author's Note
From the collection of pieces I'm calling "Archaeology"
Other stories by Gary Hardaway
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The last line, in particular, is stunning.*
I think Martians painted those. That explains that they didn't need to bring ladders. They had these long, rubbery extensive arms and such. Maybe.
Thank you, Amanda.
Jerry, there's a place for you at the Ancient Aliens division of the History Channel. You might have to grow crazy looking Greek hair, however.
I love this one. Great to see this series growing.
I had so many questions when I saw the petroglyphs in the Southwest, which the guide always answered with "We don't know".
( it was Canadians did the cave paintings)
I think Canadians also built Stonehenge. Probably taught the Vikings how to build ships, too.
I'm with Amanda. The silence. The silence. The wonder. *
Such elegance in this and a fascinating subject. *
Thank you, Matt and Charlotte, for your kind responses.
"You light the way into the cake." *
"what we see in our contemporary light." *
Thank you, Jake and thank you, Gary.
"Where are the practices, /the learning curves's /discarded evidence?"
My favorite part.