The Cane

^{Tom Porter/Sakokwenionkwas (He Who Wins)
Pine Tree Chief of the Kanienkehaka
People of the Flint, the Mohawk Nation
Spiritual Leader of Kanatsiohareke, Place of the Clean Pot
speaking at Saratoga High School}

There is this path we walk
he taps the condolence cane
on the floor in front of him
Think of it as the past
think of it as the present
you are in balance between 
the day and the night
when you walk
in the night guided
by Grandmother Moon
in the day lit
by Elder Brother Sun
he holds up the cane
given him more than 50 years ago
the cane he leaned on
as he walked to this room
where 100 teenagers lean
forward into his words
early in their own journeys
his words shaping their memories
Each peg on the cane, he says
represents a condoled chief
he walks again in front of them
This is the path you walk
the cane supporting him