Poetry Corner – I’m Coming Home
I’m Coming Home
by J. H. Williams
Printed with permission from the author
Where stand the Black Spruce
Where is the Willow the Fireweed
Where sit the mountains the sky that make me feel
Where is the fear of sow bear
Where is the Colt strapped tight to my hip its brass shells lead heads tucked tightly in stainless steel cylinders
Where is the wind the dust
The glacial silt ground fine as cornstarch from glaciers long receded
Where are the women so strong and erect skin etched by cold and wind
Pure white breasts untouched by the sun hair unadorned with dye and bows
Where are the men strong and sincere
Where are their gnarled and skinned knuckles callused handshakes and bountiful smiles
Where are the moose the caribou the sheep
Where are the Salmon the Grayling the Burbot
Where is the fragrance of flowers growing low
Where are the streams and rivers
Where is their gurgle their rush their roar
I miss you true men you true women
I miss your fragrance of sweat and unwashed bodies
I miss your unkempt hair and dusty boots
I miss our cooking on small gas burners our refrigerator a cooler of melted ice
I miss the sound of urine falling in an outhouse
I miss the creek where we drew our gray water
I miss the colors outside my cabin window
Green in the morning
Rust at dusk
As golden wheat before it rains
I miss no telephone poles no electric
I miss no signs selling shoes or watches
I miss no TV no radio
I miss the songs you played for me
I miss Alaska its people
I miss the expanse the cold desert skies
I miss Alaska my new home
I am Alaskan’s prodigal son unrealized fortune and all
I have whored and drank gambled and squandered
But I return to you a pure man
For you have washed me clean
Renewed my spirit cleared my lungs
Made keen my sight
You have embraced me with your greatness laying the land before me
You invite me to come live eat kill catch
All that you have you have you offered to me and more
I am not worthy but I will become worthy or die
Alaska asks nothing of me but to become Alaskan
I am Alaskan born out of wedlock in a distant state but I am coming home
Home to the Buffalo to the Beaver
Home to the Wolf the Coyote
Home to the Eagle the Raven
Home to Alaska
Home to the place and people who call be friend
Reproductions in any form, electronicly, digitaly or in print is strictly prohibited without express written permission from the author.
Contact Joel H. Williams.
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