loose threads

terminus pro quem
archaeology is linked to anthropology, the study of humans. archaeologists observe their world for patterns — sunken earth, topographical anomalies — things that indicate a story to unravel. they pinpoint their focus with the accuracy of a laser (because they use lasers, which is probably the biggest difference between poets and archaeologists) and begin the delicate work of excavating. and it is delicate work. each layer of soil is a piece of history systematically removed from the story, sifted through and catalogued. it is dirty, hard, tedious work. care must be taken while you are knee-deep in muck. you record everything. later, in the lab, you will sift through time again, ziplock by ziplock, until the story emerges, until time explains itself in bits and pieces.

is this not what poets do? observe, find patterns, dig deeper, assess and reassess and contemplate these items spread out before you, to find the story waiting to be told.

-rjm

prompt: the difference between archaeologists and poets, from theconstantpoet on Instagram