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Giizhep-Miigwaan

(Morning Feather)

Ajijaak, the Crane

Flew toward the rising sun

To watch tomorrow come

Mishike, the Turtle

Swam around the lake

Feeling the warmth of a new day

Mang, the Loon

Sang a morning song

All down the beach it echoed along

Wawashkesh, the Deer

Paused while drinking at the water’s edge

Flicked its white tail and off it went

Makwa, the Bear

Passed close to the lake

Unnoticed, as if guided

through hidden shadow caves

Waaboos, the Rabbit

Lay still in the hollow of a log

Nose twitching, heart thumping,

in time with the loon song

Migizii, the Eagle

Overlooked the waters from a dead branch

in a high pine

And dropped a feather that had carried

many prayers in its time

The Anishinaabe put semma down, on the ground

Said some prayers and picked up the feather

Turned in all the directions,

and said “miigwech” to the spirits there

At the sacred fire, ishkode

The Anishinaabe lit some sage

And with the feather, fanned the smoke

through long hair braids