Winter Coming

Winds

It is walking along Lake Superior in the rain

with lightning flashing, those breakers crashing,

hell, how can you feel alone?

The Chippewa say the wind, whistling

across the Big Water carries the wail

of forgotten warriors, drowned along the bays.

If you listen closely, especially in November,

you can hear them—aaiyaaiyaii aaiyaiyee!

It's a sound that carries to the bone.

Last time out, in a two-day blow

my old dog turned back at Bishop Point

and stood there, shaking, when I got home.