I. azhigwa: jibwaa-maadamandam
Sun circles our bodies on his way
to kiss Moon—we eat fresh pickerel,
brook trout, wide mouth bass—gorge
on each-others’ body heat
fast for ode-imin—pump fire
in the water of our veins
are warned about you
do not listen
toboggan towards
snow covered
land
II. noongom: megwaa’giiwanimotaw wa’awe
I want to scissor you out of my history
but I am ensorcelled by the beaver pelt
velour of our ancestors’ agree ments inde’
wiisagendam gide’ wiisagenda mi mawi’ode
aki wiisagishin into a state of remembering
anishinaabewi-gichigami
naadowewi-
gichigami
ininw
ewi-
gich niigaani-
igami gichigami
waabishkiigoo-
gichigami
III. bijiinag: noojimo’iwewin
we weave our spirits back
together—ningodokanzh—one
cluster of berries minjimendan
s
e
r
p
e
n
t
i
n
e
around gnathic grief
there is no water left
to drink
