NanaBjörn

Tattoo a lie
Skin marked
Permanent.
Stories live
Dance
Transform

New story
Layers
Becoming

I gave paskomosis* wings
Story needs hope

I gave paskmosis pupil
Story needs soul

I give paskomosis shadow
Hope to leads a line of betrayal

A still motion story
Stitched in raw wounded skin

Pehiw 2022
*Buffalo in Cree

Existential excoriation

Existential excoriation
Aint got plans like Icarus
Hubris keeps me low
Antidote?
Shadows in our blood.

“Used to want to be important”*
But I want better more
Lots of this scared me
Roots were dry
Not dead
Just dormant
Everything is awkward
Learning
Aint got the knack just yet
Just keep saying yes
Fill my ears

Fire
Etches destruction deep
Impulse
Hide
Distract
Downplay

But healed scar
Says hope
Speaks
Nokimos** was here

Pehiw 2022

*Gang of Youths - Unison
**Grandmother/Elder in Anishnabek

New names

What can I call you
Hard men
With soft centers?
Your command
Over anger
Fascinates me
You truths
Part mine

10,000 hours
I thought
I wrote
I prepared

“Make the money-don’t let the money make you – change the game-don’t let the game change you.”*
“All my people stay true.”

All those grey spaces
You filled me
Each Briefing Note
A rhythm, rap
Fueled by an anger
Too new to name

This morning
Your name appears

NanaBjörn

A little bit Nanabush
A little bit bear
A little bit Nana
Who taught me letters
A little bit Métis
Who taught me angry
Braided with wisdom
Strategy
And knowledge
Can be embraced and not destroy

Pehiw W2022
*From “Make the Money” Mackelmore/Ryan Lewis Album “Heist” 2012

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