This past June, I went to Juneau, Alaska which was a powerfully moving journey. I have been immersed in studying climate change. It is horrifying. When the opportunity to go to Juneau presented itself, I immediately said yes — I wanted to visit the glaciers while they still exist.

Many thanks to the artists, musicians and contributors included in this piece:

Jeris — Binaural beat, chimes
Haskel — slide guitar
Smojos — djembe
Juskidink — chimes ( @freesound.org)
Davidou — whales ( @freesound.org)
Benmaesound — eagle ( @freesound.org)
Sackjo22 — bass, field recording of Mendenhall Glacier Melt, and vocals (uploaded separately)

This work is more fully explored with video and additional text at The Imaginal Cell which is my latest project.


ALASKA

I was called to Alaska where I was sent to grieve
In the majesty of light and land,
Of infinity
To the heart of the mother, the font of seed
Where it feels like life was incepted
I was called to grieve.

So many shades of green,
We sailed a sequined sea where
Even the whales seemed small against the backdrop of trees reflected in the water
… softly shimmering
. .the light… the water
. . ..the calf her mother. .
The show off breaching
The land stretching farther than I could imagine
I want to go there to breathe in the clean air

We heard the eagles sing
Then we saw them by the dozens a pile of abundance
embodying how we’ve been
Eagles by the dozen a pile of abundance
Feasting on what’s rotten
Embodying how we’ve succumbed
Eagles by the dozen

The water meets the land where the earth has been cleaved by glaciers migrating
This water is your dream
This water it will kill you if you go in fast or deep

I was called to Alaska where I was sent to grieve
Faces in the forest accompanied me
A dog for protection howled for me
Berries and glacier water nurtured me
Life growing abundantly