The Great Lakes

great reservoirs of fresh water
salt-less-ness, fresh and free
the Anishinaabe in Canada

i am a guest among guests
asking to be welcomed
where so many like me
have come before
abusing generosity,
defiling the land, her peoples,
and these waters

i come humbly
requesting benevolence
offering my love and willingness
to join in the healing
of this land and her people
her waters, her winds
her stones, and her bones

beloved, where do we begin?