The Curse
He stands there, feet firmly rooted in the snow-covered ice
a spear in his hands, invisible in a frozen paradise
He waits and waits, an infinity of patience
Solemn, dignified and eternally gracious
A slight ripple in the black slushy surface
His heartbeat quickens, this is his purpose
A grey, sleek presence, a hard strike into the head
The spike shears and cuts, the water boils red
The weapon is empty, the prey is gone
His soul withers, there's nothing to be done
He drops to his knees, asking for forgiveness
Agloolik the hunting god answers with stillness
With a heavy heart, he returns to his igloo
The seal is suffering and the fault lies with him
The spirits of the snow play in the dark
Startled, he hears a curious bark
A fur-covered woman, pale and bleeding
lies there wounded, life-force fleeting
He tends to her wounds, deep and aching
and marvels at her frame, strong and shaking
No words are said, her eyes speak for her
two pits like fire stones plead for help
Malina the sun god reaches over the horizon
The woman cries, shivers and is suddenly gone
A seal lies there, familiar eyes anxious and fearful
he stares in awe at the seal he'd hurt, horrified and tearful
He sends his gratitude to all gods and spirits
for now, he has the chance to mend his actions
Malina and Igaluk the moon god spin
in their endless dance that always has been
They dance many cycles around and around
the wounds heal and so do two hearts
They join under Igaluk's all-seeing eye
and he sings her to sleep with a sad lullaby
Before dawn, she tells him of her skin-carved rune
of Irdlirvirisissong, a demon cousin of the moon
The curse was cast for she refused to be his bride
but she never faltered from her path and never cried
Malina's presence draws out the seal within her
and Igaluk lets her true form to occur
The burden is to last until Igaluk dances with a blood red face
a sight never seen in this barren place
He promises to care for her for all time
as they listen to the stories the fire chimes
He seals the promise with the power of a shaman drum
They embrace each other and listen to their joint hearts thrum
