I stand at the junction
of two rivers
one flows towards my home
the other to the ocean
I have a boat
which one do I choose?
the ocean – sweet, salty, strong, mysterious
terrifying
washing my heart with salt water
cleansing my skin, pores, eyes, nose, ears, mouth
but I am going home
to the softness of the lakes
and the softness of my mother’s touch
where I will be held
by my family
by the rolling hills
by the kind forests
by the warmth of knowing a place and being known
I am going home
to where the winters are colder
and the fires are brighter
and life isn’t complete without a beaver tail
to nanas and pas
and cousins now married
and I’ve missed it all
but no longer
because I have my boat
and I am going home.
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