This is the way of it
Earth is alive
Turtle Island sleeps
until the Song says
rise, brighten your limbs
rainwash your green
and give voice

thread geese
through windlines, lace
swans along lakes
let the mountains ring
with testimony, every valley
run brown and rich

in stonefields
write slenderly
in starfields
etch cold fire
rejoice

wing by wing
bring southern music
lirio y mariposa
long in flight, so long

call forth
those northern dancers
light the night, soul light

turn south your shoulder
Mother, your northern children

stand poised, all listening.

Image by Heung Soon on pixabay.com