Here, I am restless under sunsets that endure all night. Skin smeared orange, pink, yellow, and blue Thought I’d be alone up north instead, there’s too much sky black spruce, sticky poplar, trembling aspen, white birch gold flakes, grey ashes, purple flowers, pink rock, fireweed The city had become a fork in the eye a boot to the neck a parrot squawking Here, I linger thirsty at the confluence between a muddy river and a clear one sucking in a thick stream of wildfire smoke watching the glaciers release silt Perpetual sun has taught me to draw the blinds, swim in clouds, dance again, be kind
Dawson
The Poems