Silver Islet
Nanabijou
in his eternal sleep
lies beneath the rocky sky
betrayed by an impostor, double-crossed
you stand on the November shore
wearing earrings made of fisheyes
staring at the Spirit of the Deep Sea Water
your feet press scrub flat
the wind wraps
your shoulders in a shawl
you crush his ring in your fist
its stone bleeds
you think of treachery, lift your hands
in offering
ashes tumble from your palms
dust blows, heralding a family
reunion.
Published in Misunderstandings Magazine, Vol. 3, Winter 2006.
From “Something to Hide” a chapbook of poetry by Valerie Poulin; finalist for Shaunt Basmajian Chapbook award, 2003.