Chigaming gii jiisibidoon mikwambikwadinaa
The great sea was pinched by the glaciers
neyaashiiwan, neyaakobiiwanan, neyaakwaa
land reaching, water pointing, trees leaning
biindig zaaga’iganing, agwajiing akiing
inside the lake, outside the land.
Omaa zhawenjigejig zhaweniminangwa
It is here we are loved
epiichi agwaayaashkaa mii dash animaashkaa
by the slow swell of tides
gaye baswewe zisibimaadiziyang.
that echo the rasp of our lives.
Maampii gidanishinaabemotawigoonaanig
This place speaks to us
ginwenzh biboon, nitaawigin niibin
of long winters, summer growth
babejianjisemigad apane.
and slow constant change.
Originally published in And Here: 100 Years of Upper Peninsula Writing (Michigan State University Press, 2017). Copyright © 2017 by Margaret Noodin. Used with the permission of the author.