Omeros Chapter XXXI Summary

i

  • Achille washes the canoe down and sings a song from the latest "blocko": Bob Marley's "Buffalo Soldier." 
  • He fantasizes about being that buffalo soldier, conflating Native American Indians with West Indians, riding on the plains while paddling on the sea.
  • In his fantasy, he becomes the colonist, slaughtering native palm trees with his Winchester/oar.

ii

  • Achille is helping Seven Seas by raking leaves in his yard when he sees an iguana and freezes in fear.
  • Seven Seas tells him that the origin of the tree's name—pomme-Arac—is connected to the Aruac people that used to live there.
  • Eventually, Achille's rake strikes on a stone. It has a face incised on it and is an ancient totem, but Achille uproots it and hurls it away.

iii

  • Seven Seas tells Achille more about names and tells him about his past life and travels.