REFLECTIONS

From Aboriginal Poems

By Rita Joe
Poet Laureate of the Mik'maq - Canada

Our home is this country

Across the windswept hills

With snow on fields.

The cold air.

I like to think of our native life,

Curious, free;

And look at the stars

Sending icy messages.

My eyes see the cold face of the moon

Cast his net over the bay.

It seems

We are like the moon -

Born,

Grow slowly,

Then fade away, to reappear again

In a never-ending cycle.

Our lives go on

Until we are old and wise.

Then end.

We are no more,

Except we leave

A heritage that never dies.

Rita Joe (1931-2007) the Mi’kmaq poet was born on the Whycocomagh Reserve in Nova Scotia. Her poetry and activism made her a symbol of Native pride. She was awarded numerous honourary doctorates from various Canadian universities. She has published 5 books including her co-edited title, "The Mik'maq Anthology."