89. Ojibwe ladies with embroidery stories

In a cramped little kitchen
filled with laughter and smiles
I sit at the table with 2 nokomisinonnig

Their long, straight, grey hair
pulled loosely behind them
while wrinkled round faces
look sweetly down at me

One of them begins by drawing the eye
to a beautifully quilted, coat that she wears
running her fingers along stitched designs
of silver grey stars over universe seams

The other now shows me the coat that she wears
soft to the touch with an apricot hue
and shaking the coat and making it billow
I see a new story begin to unfold

Some people write books while others may carve
some people sing, while others might dance
but these little old ladies who sit in their kitchen
show me the way, they share their own stories


* Nokomisinonnig (Grandmothers)

6. Pendleton blankets of white

As the first light of dawn crept over my face
words could not say just how my heart sank
as I fell to the floor and cried in your lap

Your hair long again and pulled into a bun
and through trusty old frames
You looked at me again

Wearing a robe with patterns of satin
and nursing a pillow embroidered with light
I couldn't believe a chance had been given
For one last goodbye my beautiful mate