THROWBACK THURSDAY: MASTERPIECE #1637 (2/8/17)

/// Tribal smoke signals here being shown
were a First Nations long-distance “phone.”
These braves seem baffled by
the inchoate reply.
(It’s a steam geyser from Yellowstone.)

/// Over time these wise people have learnt
the smoke’s colored by what’s being burnt.
To make smoke thick and white
mix green branches just right.
Add some hemp and the senders get turnt.

/// A damp cloth on the fire is the way
to make puffs when the cloth’s pulled away.
The man chosen to yank it
is a brave called “Wet Blanket.”
He’s the death of the party, they say.

/// Freddy Remington’s clearly impressed
by those horned skulls that littered the West.
Having slain buffalo,
just before they would go,
“Leave the head,” the Chief said, “Take the rest.”

/// Their smoke signals can’t be seen at night,
and must be in direct line of sight.
Can’t be used when it rains.
Best on hills, not on plains.
But still better than T-Mobile, right?

/// Airborne signals they sent made with smoke
weren’t long codes, complex, and baroque.
More like Paul Revere’s key:
“One by land; two by sea.”
To communicate fully they spoke.