CRANE DANCE

 honor me

once as a bear

touch me

by song

cover me

with bright leaves

october traces

by song

heavy snow

weighs the seasons

on my shoulders

by song

set me adrift

on the cold stones

at the shoreline

by song

raise me

in the white pine

and sumac

by song

leave me

near the moccasin

flower and birch

by song

teach me

the great dance

of sandhill cranes

by song

tease me

name the mongrels

sky eyes

by song

set me free

native liberty

twice a bear

by song

sandhill cranes

dragonflies

dance at sunrise

by song

Gerald Vizenor