Juneau Poem by Kevin Fisher-paulson

I flew down to the sky glaciers
when the summer mountains still held snow
when the light limned longer than my solstice
and an eagle circled, searching.

When the summer mountains still held snow
a fire burned in ancient timber
and an eagle circled, searching.
I went looking for a hump-backed whale.

A fire burned in ancient timber.
The deep fjord declared my journey.
I went looking for a hump-backed whale.
A bear broke salmon for her cubs.

The deep fjord declared my journey.
As night crept in the borealis taunted.
A bear broke salmon for her cubs.
We each did what the rain forest teaches.

As night crept in the borealis taunted,
ice cascades to river to the sea.
We each did what the rain forest teaches.
I carved a totem of that eagle.

Ice cascades to river to the sea.
I flew down to the sky glaciers.
I carved a totem of that eagle
when the light limned longer than my solstice.