"Inuit man warms his wife's feet, somewhere around 1880-1890's"

photographed by Robert Peary

her toes nuzzle at his stove.
papoose, softly searching
through winter's claw and fur.

a life time away from there -
my own press the sky,
for what warmth comes.

frost is melting here,
but crackles still.
with bird songs along my toes,

perched. on the balcony,
(as if piano keys,
soft hammering the sun.)

quiet light threads a way,
with her small feet,
yawning through my soles.

awakening my heart
to a green land wide,
and warming...

i wonder if she felt this way?
her hungry, cold toes
held up in his hands.

the hands that hardened,
with sharp awareness
'round the harpoon;

that dragged the seal
over snow and ice,
red'ning.

the hands carving
some small measure
of surviving with love.

i wonder what music
may have stirred in her feet,
pressing at the heart.

Reviews

[---]

Damn, can't believe I didn't see this one.

There's a parallel you draw (I'm not sure if others can see it) through the third and sixth stanzas - your warming feet in the sun against hers and her husband's belly.

That's so effective, and juxtaposes the land against a husband. Genius. The last four tercets are phenomenal, too, with emphasis on that last stanza. So, so good.

I spent my childhood in Nunavut, in the Kivalliq, though I did some time on Baffin as well. My father used to warm my feet this way after hockey, after playing on skates that were just a little too small and on a rink that froze with the weather.

Brings back a lot. And I can't express what a pleasure it is to read quality work on here.

Big ups to your pen.

- Ook

[Pete]

touching poetry. your words and a gesture of love so beautiful. strong ending. well said.

[Michael Sun Bear]

Hello Lara, I was pleasantly startled to come across your poem. I collected Inuit art much of my adult life. The photo in my profile is an Inuit carving depicting a woman shaman in the midst of transformation. I have a print of a walrus kill. You have created a nice contrast of weather, culture, geography and a touching portrayal of the universality of love. I love the verse describing the birds on your balcony. Well written!

[emmajoygreen]

Love can be shown in so many ways - if only the people involved knew or know what matters to the other person. But, to know that person so well as to understand what is important is the reason for their shared love.. Or not. The gift of a touch, casual or intended, sends shivers, sends frissons through the body, especially the heart. Is both a dove's coo and a flight on a mighty eagle's back - is inexplicable.

A lovely poem, words intended, memories made or rekindled.. ..

[Lara]

Thank you, em.
And I believe you're quite right about that, too. 🙏

[Einstein Noodle]

i think that's really beautiful, Lara .. the imaging makes my ol' heart skip a beat .. such vivid contrasts in the "old ways" ... warming the toes with tender loving hands reamains a constant doesn't it!? :)
E.

[Lara]

Hi, e.
Yes, it does. It certainly does!

Thank you for visiting here 🙏

[Einstein Noodle]

:) ......................