Denman Past
by Thomas Provençal
The rocky shores of Denman Isle
beckon me to stay a while
to reach into the secrets at our feet.
For a positive repository
of Denman‘s ilk and former glory
a mere 200 years need we retreat
when native dancers left their prints.
Mounds of middens hold their hints
of long-term occupation on this rock.
The people that were here before
played our game but couldn’t score.
Smallpox killed in droves, bequeathing shock!
Europeans filled the gap.
The conquered culture shut their yap
and moved to a reserve not far away.
They left behind a rich resource
that we exploit to sell of course
for money is the focus of today.
Now the giant trees are gone
and herring caught before they spawn.
The world is closing in and changing fast.
The gentle waves of Salish Sea
have increased their acidity.
It’s hard to know how long this all can last.
