EARTH PARTNERS

Atatawi
ISBN 0-9685817-3-0

Atatawi means "gift" in the Mohawk language.

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Dedications

For my first mother, Earth and All My Relations
For my great-great grandfather, Charles Hildreth

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Theme

Wrapped in the beauty of the written word is love for thee greatest gift of creation, the Earth.

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Back Cover Blurb

Atatawi is a joyous celebration of Nature and her precious gifts. April A. Severin's moving tribute of gratitude and praise is deeply rooted in
North American Native spirituality, and expresses a loving and truly whole way of being in the world.
- Eleanore Kosydar, Past President, Tower Poetry Society

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Up/stream

While I wait for 7:09 a.m.
radio weather-and-traffic time
the salmon's sad course
changes mine

Along a stretch of Red Hill Creek
lined with concrete
I spot a large salmon
swimming upstream,
cry my way to the convenience store
to read the newspaper story

Aware of my watch ticking
I return to cheer the salmon on
as he manages to move forward
in water so shallow
his soul is scraped

When he becomes stranded
I walk over to him
cry, "Would you let me help you?"
hug him
carry this creature
without struggle
from the concrete*
to the creek upstream
place him in the waiting water
rock him gently

He swims away strong
time again for tears,
3:09 p.m. my watch dies
to give a salmon more time

*Concrete channels have been built in water ways under roads to "control flooding". When the water flow is low salmon, on their run upstream to spawn, suffocate to death as the flow spreads to a mere few inches across the expanses of concrete. In some places, water stops flowing altogether.


Copyright © by April A. Severin, Earth Partners Publishing
Previously published in Tower  Poetry Summer Edition 2000 Vol.ume 49, No. 1
by The Tower Poetry Society & Friends of Red Hill Valley Volume 10, Issue 4 October / November 2000 by FORHV.

See Animal Appeal for article " Slow Down and Save the Salmon"

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Also by April A. Severin:

Testimony ISBN 0-9685817-0-6
Witness ISBN 0-9685817-1-4
Animal Appeal ISBN 0-9685817-5-7
Feast ISBN 0-9685817-4-9
Opening ISBN 0-9687348-7-1

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