Title: Arctic Tryst

Author: Julie Leibrich

In: Sport 13 Spring 1994

Publication details: Fergus Barrowman, October 1994

Part of: Sport

Keywords: Verse Literature

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Sport 13 Spring 1994

Julie Leibrich — Arctic Tryst

page 114

Julie Leibrich

Arctic Tryst

Annie Kanovak sets out from Coppermine
following the carbou trails laid down
since time was a latent thought.

Her glimmer of paisley red signals intent.
Sound of drums on the wind; a wolverine
calling to the stars. Wanting Venus.

In Yellowknife, tinker town on permafrost,
Kytak sees the borealis point to gold.
Directed by the pole-star, he pitches his tent

beside a lake of thinkling ice. All that remains
of winter, the muted sound of winter.
The land breathes carefully here.

Soon, the geese will fly—a dalliance of noise,
reverberating pleasure round the moon.
Then these nomads, glad of an end

to assaying, will kneel to consider the prospect
on some long dry Artic night where
even the ravens do not move till morning.