He is the Wind of the North

the bringer of clarity and wisdom

honoring us with his presence

as he scatters seeds of prayer and song

a reminder of his fading culture.

His face is etched in lines of lamentations

and losses yet he stands firm

preserving and honoring his traditions.

He is a breath of life,

a teacher, a listener

although his eyes are no longer bright

his senses remain alert

as he moves gracefully and silently

through the winter of his life.

He carries within him

the wind of the past, present, and future

his roots tied to this sacred ground

and wonders will the seventh generation

remember the echoes of the ancestors?

He prays his children's children

will walk with beauty and tranquil courage

feeling the land not only with their feet

but with the heart of the Great Mystery

preserving all that has gone before.

He dreams one day

the wrongs of the past will be made right,

the voice of clarity will dissolve boundaries

and the Spirit of Life

will flow from one heart to the next.

The moon is full, the darkness grows shorter

few dawns are left on his horizon.

He hears the call of the Snowy Owl

who waits in the wings

to guide him home.

He is the Wind of the North,

an Ancient One

who blows gently upon me as we walk together

and his words leave an imprint

in my heart and spirit.

He is Grandfather.

Author Unknown