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From: Vol.01 N.01 – Ecopoetic Ruminations

The native word was rind

by Glenn Bach

from Atlas Peripatetic

 

The native word was rind,

woody plants such as trees

overlay the wood and consists

in other words most of the stem.

 

Any small ship. Echoic,

specifics of the brain recorded—

 

—loudspeaker for bass notes.

 

Please note this inner bark,

this dry outer husk (from which

it is extracted). What scribal error

this unlikely etymology, by early

sources. Stronger and sweeter

words coined for the covering,

to low like a cow, to rend, to boast,

to cry out the bark of certain trees.

 

Whose skin by exposure to sun,

whose shells in a red heat, slips

or disappears. Skin, plates on fish

or snakes.

 

Where is the outer shell of the earth,

exactly, especially the gold edge

of Calafia. The uncertain pages

of a book—

what falls from our eyes

 

Published: January 2014
Glenn Bach

is a poet and sound artist whose major project, Atlas, encompasses a wide range of artistic practice. Excerpts of Atlas Peripatetic have appeared in such journals as hutt, Free Verse, and Jubilat. Another project in the series, Atlas Sets, documents a series of ongoing collaborations with fellow composers and improvisers. Glenn lives and works in Los Angeles.

An Australian and international
journal of ecopoetry and ecopoetics.

Plumwood Mountain Journal is created on the unceded lands of the Gadigal and Wangal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and to elders past, present and future. We also acknowledge all traditional custodians of the lands this journal reaches.

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