James Alexander

North

in the far north

where the dogs do run

along snow covered tracks

of a never setting sun

 

there lives a people

with a resilient grace

of close knit community

in a frozen desolate place

 

fur from the seal,

caribou and bear

clothes to survive

the bitter cold air

 

to conquer the distance

of the bare frozen plain

their dogs pull sledges

across the frozen domain

 

skilled in the ways

of the hunt and trap

over bareless terrain

experience their map

 

from skin covered kaiaks

they hunt for whales

cut holes in ice for

fish and evasive seals

 

throughout the winter

when the sun doesn\'t shine

northern lights and story

tales help pass the time

 

their life is their world

stretching silently white

a community unto itself

living an unfettered life

 

what will be lost

cannot be explained

by society\'s encroachment

their lifestyle maintained?