Introduction to Ken’s “Journey” Posts
By Tim Olson
In 2015, I edited a collection of Ken’s writings and published them in a small book, Salmon Journey, Against the Current. After introducing the book to family & friends at Joanne and Tom Chase’s home, I pretty much put the book on the shelf. Recently, I happened to pick up Salmon Journey and revisit several of Ken’s poems and writings.
With everything that’s happening in the world including the pandemic and election, I discovered that what Ken had written was significant today. In the blog, I will post excerpts of Ken’s writings. On some of them, I will add a personal note about what they mean for me.
In addition, enjoy Ken’s poems written on a variety of subjects
Thanks to Dan for the photo of Ken rowing a skiff!
INDIAN LORE
driven by love to
the head of the Nass
where my friends are
only ravens lost in
eerily drifting vapors of
solitude and contradictions
and with them clawing at truth in
my mind on craggy highness
when a poem spirit so
beautiful and human
bears me home to
carve my totem
NOTES ON “INDIAN LORE”
We don’t learn until the end of the poem who the poet is when “the spirit . . . bears me home.” We do know that the writer of the poem is “driven by love to the head of the Nass.” The Nass River flows into Portland Inlet in Northwest British Columbia and plays a major part in Tlingit mythology. In the beginning of things, there is no light and all is in “blackness”. A Raven lives at the head of the Nass and in his house exist things like sun, moon, stars and daylight. In time the Raven creates people who live in darkness until the Raven releases light to the Nass. Of course, he does much more than that. Raven is a clever fellow and we wouldn’t be who or where we are without him.
In the poem, the poet together with other ravens is “ lost in eerily drifting vapors”. And then? The poet comes home to “carve my totem.” His totem, however, will be in words in contrast to the visual symbols and beings carved by a native carver.
Sometimes a totem carver puts what’s important at the top of the pole and sometimes at the bottom where the visual is at eye level. Also, a totem can tell a story and do more than tell a story. A totem can reveal, validate, document what’s significant to a clan. Not sure what our poet would place at the top and what at the bottom.
MY NAME
my name is coffee
in the focsle of
a little troller
named Lady Fay
laying on anchor
in a harbor
named Little Daykoo
where the little geese
come to peer
sideways.
Dance of leaves
in wind and
rain
morning butterflies
floating through
my brain
ALONE NEAR THE BREAKERS
Have you heard the sound of the sea
off Cape Addington
Where the great mother ocean
heaves her breast out
And the stellar lions splash
under the August moon?
Running fast and deep
following a trace
Twenty fathoms down bright
golden-backed salmon
weigh thirty pounds.
I dizzy and delighted to hear
the song of my lines.
Oh that was such a good choice for me to come and read this story in your blog rather than watch the last night of the Republican convention.. Really refreshing to reread those poems and see the images of Ken and Jerry on the Lady Faye Just to note: the poem Indian Lore is the poem selected by the students in Edna Bay, Kosiusco Island, Davdson Inlet, near Sumner Strait, SE Alaska to put in the program for the celebration of life they held for Ken Olson. Edna Bay was one of our most visited communities while serving SE Alaska on the MV Christian. We became close to the people in the very isolated island and have many good memories of adventures with those hardy and interesting peoples.
Thanks for posting, Tim.