Land Of The Sun

Land Of The Sun
© Surazeus
2025 01 15

While arranging rocks on the river shore 
in circles to channel spirit of rain, 
Kaya watches two longspurs hop in mud 
to eat seeds and bugs with sharp golden beaks. 
"My heart flows within river of the land 
who keeps strange secrets with her silent eyes." 

Three men with pale skin and curly gold hair 
emerge from thick forest of quaking aspens, 
trodding purple lilacs with muddy boots, 
so Kaya transforms herself into plump yellow toad. 
"Who are these creatures who come from the sun 
with eyes blue as the late afternoon sky?" 

Hiding under the small chokeberry bush, 
with small white petals dotting her black hair, 
Kaya watches in shock as the three men 
catch dozens of beavers they hang on poles. 
"Brother Beaver, I hear your anguished cry, 
but I cannot rescue you from their greed." 

Transforming back into her human form, 
Kaya fills basket with berries and nuts, 
then walks the winding trail of lilac flowers 
back to her wickiup by large turtle pond. 
"I wonder if those clumsy grass-haired men 
came from land of the sun across the sea." 

After boiling chokeberries with acorns, 
Kaya mixes jam with honey and ginger, 
then spreads it on corn cakes with cinnamon, 
and savors sweet taste as moon sparrows chirp. 
"My heart flies with the hawk among the clouds, 
eager to explore beyond the far hills." 

When the three beaver-hunters with their catch 
appear before her face with hungry eyes, 
Kaya gives them corn cakes smeared with sweet jam, 
so they give her new copper cooking pot. 
"Though our tongues do not speak the same language, 
our eyes express mutual trust and respect." 

Taking the youngest man into her bed, 
who touches his chest and calls himself Alan, 
Kaya shares pleasure of love with his soul, 
smiling when his spirit grows in her womb. 
"May you walk the trail of life with the sun, 
for you are always with me, though we part." 

While arranging rocks on the river shore 
in circles to channel spirit of rain, 
Kaya teaches her young son Alahmoot 
names for everything they see in the world. 
"Your father came down from land of the sun 
and gave me elm branch which grew into you."