Looking For Home



Where northern sea meets western land
purple starfish clump on rocks
exposed at falling tide

people, gulls, and eagles crowd
higher rampart bluffs among
sacred cedar trees

build hidden get-aways
hunch elbow to elbow at the bar
claim every winding inch of shore
buy and spend

make love to ancient lore
spirits that rule in mist and rain
mystical bears, birds, and trees
whose sacrifice their children are

whose priests beneath a totom frown
in sweetgrass clouds intone
to sweep of feather, rattle of bone
gospel of death by gods
of elemental stuff

that Jesus died was not enough
he had to rise again

can this truth come
would there be room
to birth the God of light and love
without a virgin’s waiting womb
an empty lot along a cove?



by c. van gorkom