This Is A Poem About People

I am taking a workshop, an 8-week workshop involved with poetry.  We receive a poem prompt, every day.  We are expected to write thirty poems before the workshop is over.  That’s THIRTY POEMS, folks.  When we began in September, I thought I’d never get that many poems written.  But, I’m doing it!  As well as attending the 5-6, one-hour sessions every week; during many of those sessions, we also write poetry to a prompt. 

This morning’s prompt was to examine an art exhibit of lists found by poet, Kenny Pittcock, when he worked in his home country in a grocery store.  If after reading my poem about his exhibit, you are interested in knowing more about this young poet, his information is on-line. 

In the prompt, we were directed to write a poem using the words from one of the found lists.
The poem is a prose poem; exactly what it’s name implies – it appears to be prose.  Just like this explanation.  I’m hoping you enjoy it.

This Is A Poem About People

This is a poem about people, not lists.  Rather, it is a bit of a history lesson.  Yes, the prompt says write about a list.  I can’t do that.  When I learned that the lists were found by Kenny Pittock in the country where he lives, the Kulin Nation, I knew I needed to know where the Kulin Nation is located.  The lists represent the people, ancient and current, of his country.  My first clue was the use of the word, “Mum.”  In my country, we don’t say Mum.  We say Mom.  So, I figured the lists had to be from a country other than the United States.

Pittock’s country and the people who live there – people of the Kulin Nation in the Southern Hemisphere, the Wurundjeri,  have had one incredible history.  Before British Colonization, multiple  languages were spoken in the alliance comprising the Kulin Nation; there were five clans.  If I could tell you the names of those that comprise the Kulin Nation, I would; but I couldn’t say their names if my life depended on it.  Today, we would call their way of life simple – hunting, gathering, fishing, agriculture.  Every person held a special place in their society.  Men, children, women. 

Roles were set for both men and women.  As we might expect, men were charged with hunting and protecting their families.  They reached manhood by passing tests to prove they were capable of being able to fulfill their role. Women, also as we might expect, were expected to care for their family, gather foods and medicinal plants, as well as prepare foods.  A well-respected woman in her old age showed that she had fulfilled these expectations.  Women were, and still are, exceptional weavers of baskets and fishing nets.  They created jewelry (necklaces and bracelets) and coats for winter wear.  Children spend days with mothers and aunts playing and, also, learning things they would need when grown.  Older members held with certain respect were Elders of the clans.

 As often happens, the conquering “heroes” were able to eradicate any history of the people occurring before the arrival of the British.  Thus, there is little-to-nothing known about them before that time.  Those indigenous people living in the Kulin Nation, today, are descendants of those who were sent to Coranderrk, an Aboriginal reserve run by the Victorian government between 1863 and 1924, near Melbourne.  “Aboriginal reserve.”  That sound suspiciously like the Internment Camps where our West Coast-state, U.S. citizens of Japanese heritage were imprisoned during World War II.

 It’s interesting that these same people from another land write lists.  Not all of them to take to a grocery store.  Some of them, just lists.  I make lists.  Lots of lists.  Today is Sunday.  What’s on my “To Do List” for today?  Or, Monday.  Or, Thursday.  Of course, I do make lists for the grocery store.  Some time ago, I created a list, three columns, two pages, of all of the items that I usually choose at a grocers.  It helps me to remember – less forgetting of necessities.

 Their homes must be similar to ours.  Dog and cat food shows up on more than one list.  And, bug spray – pet friendly.  For the household list that includes both cat AND dog food, I imagine the kitchen with the cat on top of the fridge and the dog waiting below.  Yes, like us, they have pets.  And, bugs in the house, apparently.  One of the lists has market items on it, along with Kids.  How do you pick up some new kids at the grocers?  And on the “STUFF TO DO” list an item is salami.  How do you “do” salami?

 A couple of lists show the diligence of saving money by the list maker.  With $155 in a box at the top of the list, I wonder – does that shopper have exactly $155 to spend on groceries and absolutely no more?  Does that shopper watch the totals as they come up on the cash register and when the total gets to $155, tell the cashier to stop?  That is the end of their money.  I remember watching the total when I had less to spend than now.  And, another shopper includes “1/2 price” next to items on the list.  Don’t forget to watch the cash register to make sure that the items come up as 1/2 price.

With another list, I see a child, sitting in a car next to the driver making the list as directed.  Large child-like letters, some words misspelled.  HOT (a G crossed out) GOS – Hot dogs?  DANA NANS (whatever that is).  I used to do that with my daughters.  I drive, you write.  By the time we arrived at the market, the list was complete.

 My favorite list is the one topped by a gorgeous butterfly.  I’m sure it is a list for baking materials.  BAKING PAPER.  Sugar.  Also, some other personal items – Conditioner, Mouthwash, garbage bags, toilet wipes.  Taking care of business. 

 My personal appreciation of this prompt is that I can tell about all of the lists that I like. Also, this prompt had me thinking thoughts from far away, as well as thoughts from home.  With it, I received a history lesson, as well as an introduction to a people I had never before met or realized that had and are walking on earth.  Albeit, far, far away.

Be Safe and Be Well
The Cranky Crone
Thoughtful comments are appreciated.