Since there is mankind,

men go in all directions:


people are migrants.

I will be free, Papa said.
No more tummy growls, Mama said.
I won't be sick often, Papa said.

I can dream, Mama said.
School I can go, Papa said.
Stars I can reach, Mama said.

Land of plenty, Papa said,
Cats have toys, Mama said.
Dogs sleep on beds, Papa said.

Don’t drag my Papa, I begged.
Don’t take my Mama, I cried .
Inside a cage my tears dried.

My family has always moved west;
running
to
from
over
our brethren.

Now that we've hit the Pacific,
where to next?

and they escaped the weight of darkness peering over their shoulders
where do these people go,
what belongings do they pack
is there a limit on the heaviness of ones' soul

Can they bring love as parting gift? Hide it in their handkerchiefs, and then go

In Arizona last week
the migrating Painted Lady butterflies
were dancing and flitting
in stunning numbers.

In waves across the desert,
they'll live for about 6 weeks, if lucky.
Over the course of generations,
they'll migrate to Alaska.

One soon-to-be summer day,
a distant relative of this Painted Lady
will float on the breath of Eagle River valley towards
Mt. Susitna to waltz in the light of the midnight sun.

Anything, I have written at all.
May never be seen
Will never, be shown.

My words, will go un-spoken,
from generations that are,
unknown.

But my existence, will be, recorded,
through paintings, on
cave walls.

Eelgrass is stripped bare from south shores -
Once bountiful and glistening in the
October spangled winds, long before
They gathered in a silent understanding.

Instinct in formation tells them of a
Warmth beyond these waves. Tides swelling
And black necks straining. Tomorrow the shore
Is empty. The coastline weeps and waits
For leaves to fall again, in shorter days.

A little bird sings in her nest
Dreaming to fly over this world
Dreaming to see the green grasslands
The Burning deserts and the icelands cold
For today she begins the life’s quest

The north everyone says, where the end lays
Elders devise the plans to keep the troubles away
Leaders stay ahead form the pattern they say
Follow rules, be efficient don’t you astray

Don’t try, don’t fly too high little bird
You’ll get tired, strong winds will take you away
This world is scary you’ll be someone’s prey

Why north, what’s north, have you seen it
I wish to fly high on these winds of freedom
Stare at the rising red sun over the mighty dark clouds
I may fall, land low, lower in everyone’s eyes.
What is this journey if you can’t even see what’s below

Walking down streets
Lined with cobbles in broken stone
Finding the familiar in the unfamiliar
This could be my childhood town
But I am a million miles away
Crowded amongst strangers
Who don’t know my smile

Looking for comfort
In a landscape that is foreign
Finding someone who will take my hand
Show me the familiar in the unfamiliar
How this could be my home
I may be a million miles away
Crowded amongst strangers
But they will know my smile