Poems from the Olduvai Gorge: Pages of a Lost Diary

By Darnell F. Hawkins

This diary-like collection consists of poems written by the author between 1968 and 1986, with minor, more recent editing of some work. The poems herein were largely laid aside for many years as time was spent on a successful academic career.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 2, 2024
• ISBN: 9798369413890

Book preview

Copyright © 2024 by Darnell F. Hawkins.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 12/29/2023

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

857640

CONTENTS

I: In the Beginning

II: A Sendoff: The Ancestor Speaks

III: Wanderings and Awakenings

IV: Longings for Another Country

V: On Passion and Pain

Epilogue: Verses From The Book Of Ancestors

This diary-like collection of poetry contains work written between 1968 and 1986, with some more recent editing. Where pertinent to contents, the specific dates of the writing or editing are given.

This volume is

dedicated to my parents, the Ancestor Spirit, and all whom I have met over the yers…the shes, hes, thems, theys, and y’alls of all races and regions….who have taught me how to love and be loved. Foremost among those are the 3rd and 4th graders whom I taught at the Marcy Elementary School on the east side of Detroit, Michigan from 1968-70. I began as a Teacher Corps intern sent to save them from the woes of inner-city life. But it was they who saved me and who gave me the strength to be me and to love myself and them. Indeed, it was that undying memory of them and the lovefest we shared that motivated me to consider publishing the present collection of poems.

To Marcy with Love

pvii.jpg

I

IN THE BEGINNING

Bayou Boy *

I am a lonely bayou boy

I live by the bayou with only one toy

My baby sister’s name is Adrianna

We live in the state of Louisiana.

We go to a school that is painted white

Where the children study and are always bright

My oldest sister wants to move to the city

But if I left my cow, it would be a pity

If I moved to the city I couldn’t forget

The nice brown cow that I have for a pet

The city is not the place for me

I’d rather be by the bayou in a big oak tree

*First poem written by the author at age 10 after reading a library book titled Bayou Boy.

Image2.jpg

II

A SENDOFF: THE ANCESTOR SPEAKS

() The Parent Thesis ()

(June 1968)

The Ancestor came by Greyhound

from Natchez via Saint Louis

            wrapped in a torn leopard skin cotton sack