night before
some dance around campfire
beside busy highway
i want to lose my soul
into the very air
thru moving hands and feet
toes and fingers
morning of
some speak to many circled
masked huddled drizzling rain
“words before all else
this life is sacred
water is life
one great mother river
my ancestors and all their relatives”
just as
flocking many blackbirds in tall trees
setting way on the road
crow and hawk
face to face breathing together
on rowhouse rooftops
and treetops allover the island
agree
coming days for always many walking in
land stolen words stolen from anishinaabe prayer