Eric Herbert Santana
ENN198
December 1, 2008
The Cave Dweller
Look! The sky booms!
Land erupts into hot, lawless flames.
I search for my children inside the dark cave.
We are all safe, the sky is angry today.
My defense is in the palm of my hand,
Taking the form of rounded rocks
Smoothed from sitting in river water.
With these stones I defend.
I defend, and I kill.
Striking the untamed beasts that roam my land.
I hold their lifeless bodies
In the unforgiving flames.
Flames that bring light to my home when the sun is away.
The fire licks at their flesh until,
Until I believe my children will be safe.
Safe from eating something that will make them sleep
until they turn into bones.
I’m worn, tired, old.
Thirty three times has the earth
Gone around the sun since my birth.
All of the animals, I, and my children
Will inevitably sleep forever.
Sleep as bones.