Juneau

I flew down to the sky glaciers

when the summer mountains still held snow

when the light limned longer than my solstice

and an eagle circled, searching.

When the summer mountains still held snow

a fire burned in ancient timber

and an eagle circled, searching.

I went looking for a hump-backed whale.

A fire burned in ancient timber.

The deep fjord declared my journey.

I went looking for a hump-backed whale.

A bear broke salmon for her cubs.

The deep fjord declared my journey.

As night crept in the borealis taunted.

A bear broke salmon for her cubs.

We each did what the rain forest teaches.

As night crept in the borealis taunted,

ice cascades to river to the sea.

We each did what the rain forest teaches.

I carved a totem of that eagle.

Ice cascades to river to the sea.

I flew down to the sky glaciers.

I carved a totem of that eagle

when the light limned longer than my solstice.