Out of the Cave

Dzonoqua (Giantess) by Derald Scholar (Coast Salish)

I have written a whole series of poems using the Giantess as an image for my soul mentor.

You can see examples: a poem here; a piece of flash fiction here.

I seem not to have written any in 2011, but Peter and I visited Haida G’waii (Queen Charlotte Islands), and I learned in a dream that is where she lives: at K’uuna Llnagaay, which we call Skedans.

Aeriel view of K'uuna Llnagaay, which we call Skedans

This morning I woke up from another dream and wrote this poem:

Out of the Cave

 I followed the Giantess to Haida G’waii,

and it was there among the ruins

of old Skedans

she stepped out of the shadows

into the light of a leaning

mortuary pole–carved Raven

wings extended over the dead, his

head lifted in a frozen cry–

even the Giantess looked small

under the spread

of World Ender’s wings.

But she beckoned to me

and let me stand with my back

against her sun–warmed fur,

both of us gazing that

empty, time-has-stopped

gaze across that famous cove

where so many had paused to ask

permission to come ashore,

paddles raised, voices

calling and answering in a rhythm

tendered by the wind.

Now that I’m older,

now that I know how to find her

in the great dreams of Haida G’waii

that visit me,

I lean into her more,

I am less afraid of her animal face.

More and more often when I turn

to see my shadow on the bridge,

I see her hulking shape, like a bear

or an old dark–faced mountain gorilla,

her rounded back, her strong legs.

She is near now. Sometimes,

when I awake early,

I realize that my last exhale

before waking

was in her breath.

Eagle Pole at Skedans

Haida Raven Pole in Ketchikan, Alaska

Raven Shaman by Peter's teacher, Tsunguni, Chief, Lelooska Tribe Kwakwakawak