Bay of Pillars ( Kuiu Island )

Awoke this morn’ to shattered sky, shards of grey and blue
Forest mists and shadow trees, scattered golden hues,
The water transformed into glass, reflecting rock and tree,
Elusive otters moving through, bridging air and sea.

The stillness seeped from out to in, our voices whispered awe
Souls and spirits full and free with images we saw.
An eagle called and scanned the shore, a salmon slapped its skin,
The sun slipped in from ‘midst the clouds, and lips turned into grins.
We touched our fingers to the sea to prove that it was real
And pulled our hands out full of stars and animals surreal,
Anemones, algal blooms, urchins, worms, and weeds,
Salmon hearts and salmon fins transforming into trees.

Everything connected through soil and roots and rot
A complex web of give and take some humans have forgot.
The salmon give their flesh and soul to bless their children’s lives
And through their gifts a forest grows, an ecosystem thrives.

With thoughts like these I drifted on, my paddle dripping water
When ‘cross the stillness came the sound of frolicking sea otters.
We paused to be and gathered near to watch them pass us by
They leapt and mewed and watched us too, their furry heads held high.

And thus did morning turn to day and into night thereafter
The waters calm, the sky with sun, our ship with smiles and laughter.
Our hearts are full of memories, perhaps we understand
That human beings depend upon the wisdom of wild land.