Chief

Epilogue to The Shark Tooth 

I often feel telling the truth is underrated. A lot of the world’s problems spring forth as a result of lies, cover ups and corruption. That’s why I’ve been largely autobiographical in this blog as fragments of forgotten stories spill back into my consciousness. Amnesia or forgetting is not always permanent. Memories lay deep in the subconscious brain though it's sometimes hard to understand memory from imagination. 

If anyone at all reads my words, I wrote about a necklace a few weeks ago. It was a sharks tooth. It was given to someone I love. He gave it back to me at a time of need. I gave it on to a young woman in a very serious state of distress later. She found me some years on and gave it back to me when hearing of another deep wound I needed to heal. Skipping forward I waited to give the necklace to someone else who I called Chief. I thought he was good. I'm not sure about that. I only know I was with good intentions but it made me want to explore the word chief in a little poem. 

Chief 

What is a chief? 

What is the leader?

Who is the teacher? 

Is it the oldest?

Is it the youngest?

Is it the tallest? 

Is it the earth? 

Is it you? 

Is it a badge? 

Is it being told you matter too 

Like a small tear 

Into an ocean of 

Trying again

Striving for better 

Than a bad day

Striving for better than

a wreath of

decaying promises.

Is it the top? 

Or is it a circle 

with someone to 

help make it work best? 

Is is a fireman’s hat? 

Is it more than pretend? 

I was thinking of a flower 

That kind that won’t 

Take over the garden 

That stands out in the storm 

That attracts the best kinds of 

Pollinators

That’s beautiful and brave 

And honest.

I was thinking of the Moon

How it glows like a lamp 

In the sky 

And everyone sees it 

But it’s soft and brave too. 

I was thinking of the breath 

Of the wolves in the sales 

Of a boat 

I was thinking of a River 

That dances

That commands the space

But gives life. 

I was true.

I really meant it. 

I did.