by Diana Morley.
sings indigenous music
in no hurry—
he begins with silence
then opens the door
where small cold birds
sing along, woke by sound
carrying over lakes and land
iced over for months
a random cracked twig
as the bass clarinet feels
its way as companion to voice
all echoes over land so cold
the voice slows and deepens
till soft as down in birdnest
in Sami prayer and gratitude
var so godt oh nohg sahn na
spirit sung through syllables
creating that without words—
no buffer, no translation—
closing the door at song’s end
he’s gone inside, accepting
with grace no sunny days
for a long quiet time.