Piltdown

I think it was 1972.

I wanted so much to be a part of early human

history.  Rediscover it, new.  Or make it my own.

I recall the Pacific coastal eighteenth century fort

my family was visiting when I made the decision.

Walking some distance behind them, I collected

small worn pieces of seashells.  Fragments that

were white like bone.  When we returned home, I

buried the pieces secret in the front yard, along

the edge of the sidewalk.  Waited some days.

Then set out to discover.  Paleontology.  Imagined

them as skeletal remains.  Imagined them as

Olduvai.  Early man.

                        -           July 10, 2000

© 2000 J. Popowich