Sugarbush by Kaitlyn Walsh

If I ever love again
We’ll dance in the kitchen
Pray in the woods
Hold each other
Listen
Our spirits, our flesh
Feel the ebbs and flows of the moon,
Of the water in ourselves.
We smolder
Low
Slow
Long
Boil sap down to sugar.
Savor sweet smoke and each other.
Stoke that fire.
Short burns bring medicine, too.
Love that helps us learn.
Deep roots draw me in:
“Break up hard clay, niijikwe!”
Allow rain to soak in
and together let it go.
Move them beaver and otter skins.
Make room for seeds and soil.
Sugarbush alone.
But not for long.
Wintergreen is on her way.
When the time comes
Stroke her translucent flowers.
Coax her deep red fruit swell.
Savor her in every season.
Her taste now a part of you.
Like wild foods in waawaashkeshiwag,
Let her nourish your very bones.
Know — deeply.
Deeply, you do the same for her.