Loon, Forlorn
Sing to me, our Spirit, Daughter of the Prairie, Mountain, Shield, and Sea
For I don’t know if my blood and bone’d colour that flag upon your eave
I thought I knew for which it flew, why we shared that Maple Leaf
I thought, by God, seared on soul: The True North Strong and Free
Sing of her loving Mothers, fierce like Moose can be
Raise the Kids to take the licks, and don’t you mess with me
Where Granny’s earned her glory: good garden and Grandsons
She’s quilting for the Family tree. Best cook, ask anyone
Tell of those darling Daughters, auroras to our night sky
Maker’s hands, quick of wit, and beauty from on high
Who like our blessed Beaver, builds a wholesome home
She shapes our world in her wake, tending Life, our loam
Spirit, home, my Motherland, won’t you find your way to me?
Here I am a Loon forlorn, just a-cryin’ for our Leaf
Show me what we are, Love. What was our sacred dream?
I thought, by God, seared on soul: The True North Strong and Free
Oh, sing about her native Sons, fearless and adventuresome
Brave builders of the blizzards, Bobcat’s tact unto a one
For their games but godly trails, finest minds and hearts o’ wild
Iron-spined, wed Red and White, they know their Mother’s smile
And don’t forget the Fathers, Bear with timber bones
Who by axe and traps and treaty, by their blood upon the snow,
by the bullet of their gullet, and the love of Woman warm
Show thy Sons good will o’ One: oh, how their North is forged
Spirit, Holy Hinterland, won’t you find your way to me?
Here I am a Loon forlorn, just a-cryin’ for our Leaf
Show me what we were, Love. What was our sacred dream?
I thought, by God, seared on soul: The True North Strong and Free
Say, cherished for our kindness, and the guardians of fame
but that Wolverine’s a hunter, and She’s leaving nothing lame
Keen, ol’ Raven’s kindred, the wise of Goose’s law,
show the tyrant of the long night by way of Cougar’s maw
Otter oh so neighbourly, the Order of the Volunteer
Stitched by common water, drinks the honest, loyal and dear
Where if you can’t catch a laugh, you are Deer without ears
n’ for hearth n’ mirth b’y hop our ways, be well’n welcome here
Spirit, will you understand, and find your way to me?
Here I am a Loon forlorn, just a-cryin’ for our Leaf
Show me what we share, Love. What was our sacred dream?
I thought, by God, seared on soul: The True North Strong and Free
To the land of mythic wonders, where abundance to a toil
I yearn your calls of Spruce and Stone, a shanty Salt and Soil
Our Spirit to ride the campfire smoke, and Cross this fullest empty
Heroes to feed our stars and the grace o’ Grandpa’s memr’y
Sing, Faith unto our people: be humbled only by the gods
Nigh by will o’ witch, will o’ man, or the wolves o’ mob
For we rise in Winter’s patience, oh the Masters of the Flame
Bright dancers in the darkness. The Northern Lights: our Name
Oh, Spirit, like a holded hand your song upon my grief
Here I was no Loon forlorn, come Asylum Liberty
By your Horn upon your Foxway, the wealth of my relief
For stood smilin’ on the overpass: Your True North Strong and Free
Blaine Abe Carl Fode
1/13/2025