The Chant at the End of the World
The chant at the end of the world.
the chant the last native speaker utters
Before a language disappears.
Like Ishi plants & animals
Are saying their last chant.
The ice too thin to hunt on.
The Inuit wonder what is happening.
The logs are loaded onto huge ships.
The forest dwellers stare
By dirty roads
As their way of life sails away.
The Bible thumpers come
With the gospel translated.
It is good to learn
That the meek will inherit the earth
Because the big Caterpillars
Are very good at making you meek.
The last chant at the end of the world,
Civilization,
What a loaded word.
Will any mountain hermits Keep the old ways alive?
Will the ember live
In any hearts
While the mournful chanting goes on and on?
