stone flake discovered in South Africa that researchers say has the oldest known drawing by Homo sapiens on its surface. This animation highlights the ocher markings by superimposing extended hashmarks.
Henshilwood, C.S. et al.
Made by my children—
Finger paintings,
Crayon sketches,
Even handprints
In plaster
I’m not sure
Why it matters
But we all need
To leave a mark.
So, it didn’t
Surprise me
When archeologists
Found a drawing
Made by human hands
Over 70, 000 years old.
I’d like to think
It wasn’t a mom
Or dad, but a child
Picking up a red ochre stick
And crayoning
On the wall
After all,
We all need
To leave a mark
It’s the thing
That makes us
Who we are…
And here's what
I've found
by writing every day—
All art and writing
Is a way
To keep the monsters at bay.