Anishinaabewi-Gichigami

Every breath might be your last Look not forward, look not past Seize the moment hold it fast. Leave your calendar for a week without time on a land marked by eras. Paddling into the West Wind the Old Woman breaths deeply despite our tobacco tokens waves breaking over our bows as the swell slowly builds yet our sturdy kayaks flit across the swirling water like water striders on a mill pond. Casting the Dog River’s mouth a silver steelhead seizes my lure to dance atop the water and add to tomorrow’s breakfast. Waking up to a sky full of stars waves murmuring on the beach dark waters reaching to infinity. The wind drops to a zephyr at our back as the Old Woman sleeps softly and we glide across sun speckled water and reluctantly return to time marked by hours. Memories of a week's kayaking on Lake Superior's North Shore.