The Island. Chapter four, five, six, seven.
The Island. Part four. The sage.
A Chapter by Coyote Poetry
We must find peace in our messy world. 
The Island- part four..
I liked the Captain face. He had an ancient and kind face. He took my hands and he told me. I am glad to meet you finally. Lana told me, a stranger was with us on the island. We receive few visitors on Idyllic. They call me Captain, my name is Kintpuash, too hard to pronounce, I was born on the west coast, and my home was once California and Oregon. I was saved by Lana, on a hang-man rope. She saved me and she brought me to Gichigami, Lake Superior. The Ojibwa called her big water. No more talk of my past, later if you like. I can tell you a Modoc Native American tale. I see in your face, a heavy sadness in your face. When we lose our brothers, a forever ache we shall know. Nicole asked, do you want me to leave? He looked at her and he told her. If you leave, who shall burn the sage? Make the tea? She smiled and she went to a small pit and warmth-up a small kettle. Nicole names mean, Victory of the people. She is the rock of the island. Today we talk little, tomorrow we discuss anything and everything.
The Captain pointed toward four large rocks near the lake. He told me, Gichigama is blessed, filled with many spirits and mystery. The Ojibwa people loved her. She is so powerful and she cannot be controlled. We sat down and we sat in a deep silence. I liked how the Captain eyes watched the dancing waves of Lake Superior. Nicole brought the tea to me and to the Captain. Today we will drink the cranberry tea. Make the mind and body calm, we will burn the wild rosemary sage. He looked at Nicole and he told him. She is the surreality of the island. She dances with the Winter storms, when the Winter water touches the earth. Artwork for us to see. On the bridge, our Greek goddess artwork blesses the visitors. If they pay attention. You can see her dancing with lake Gichigama in the four seasons. She smiled and she told him. Enough about me dear Captain. She rose-up and gather the sage and the lighter.
The Captain closed his eyes and began to pray. Nicole walked in a circle-dance around the four rocks with the burning sage.
“Gichigama, Gichigama.
We are with you this morning.
Please come sit with us,
befriend our new friend,
bless-us with the calmness of the lake spirit.
We need the blessing of forgiveness,
the blessing of understanding.
Thank you lake Gichigama.”
After the prayer. We sat in silence till the sage burn-out. Nicole sat with me, held my hand. The Captain stood up and he told us. Tonight, at my cottage. Fresh fish from the lake, some bathtub gin and we can talk till the stars fall into the lake. He waved goodbye and I looked at Nicole. I told her. Thank you for being so kind to me. I don’t know why you are so kind to me. I kissed her forehead and her lips. She told me. Life is a hell-storms, and we must learn to dance with the lighting. We must love the sea, the lakes and the earth. Love is the hardest thing we must do. When we love, we give a part of us away. I see in your eyes, the sorrow of trying to understand the suicide of your brother. You must ask yourself, are you alive, are you dead? Dear Johnnie, you are alive. She traced my face with tender fingers and she embraced me tightly.
She stood-up and she went to Lake Superior. She tossed off her shoes and she danced with the morning waves. I watched her dance joyfully with the powerful lake. I looked at the rising morning sun and I told the sun. Thank you for this day and for Idyllic. Thank you for Nicole. She is a blessing..
Dancing Coyote
The island. Chapter five.
A Chapter by Coyote Poetry
Everyone had a story. If we listen to them. We can learn something.
We need kindness. Without kindness, we forget the meaning of love.
The Island- part five
We stood at Lake Gichigana and Nicole held me, her arms around me making me feel okay. She told me a short tale about the Lake Superior. She pointed toward the meeting place of Lake Huron and Lake Superior and she whispered. The old Ojibwa Medicine man told me. Once great lovers would meet and feast on love kisses and love embrace. He promised her the moon and the stars where the lakes fell into each other. A great storm came in the Winter. He could not find her in early Spring. They say if you listen. A ancient love song is played.
“My little Feather,
where are thee?
I am waiting,
praying to the moon and the early stars.
Come to me,
I am waiting, I am waiting.
I am at lake Gichigana where the water always meet.
Where we danced and sang when our hearts were young.
I am waiting for you, my little feather.”
She kissed the back of my neck and I turned to her. I told her, dear Nicole, you are a miracle, you are a gift, a celestial spirit in my world of madness. She held silence and she looked into my eyes. She took my hands and she told me. We must walk the Island path, a four-mile circle with so much to be seen. We have two hours before lunch. Lana is timely and she liked things that fall into proper place. Idyllic had been touched by the ancient Gods and the Ojibwa free spirits. You will love the view of the wildflowers, my wild rosemary gardens and the rose bushes from four continents. Some of the roses are beginning to bloom. I love when the roses begin to bloom. It means the warm days of Summer is near. The trees are ancient, kind Lake Superior rain ensured the trees stay strong and never stop growing. The Captain said some of the trees here are a thousand years old. He told me often, the trees talk to him. If we listen to the trees, watch the birds. We will know when the big storms shall come. The birds and the free animals take cover before the storms come. Silence mean danger. Lake Superior, our Lake Gichigana blessed the Island. Idyllic had a grand protector from the confusion of life we can fall into. The island surrounded by the lake, is in the arms of kind nature. The spirit of Gaea is always near and observing. I loved her face when she spoke. Her everchanging hazel eyes made me swim in them, her voice soft and gentle, made me hold silence so he could hear her speak. She was a ancient storyteller. She made me forget his troubles and my heavy burden.
She stopped and she told me. You have learned to love the silence dear Johnnie. I have lost many to old wars, old hate and old age. Healing take time, sometimes forever. Some people cannot stay at Idyllic, they have great mission to accomplish. They must do something to change our world. Idyllic can be a final place for the many of us, but a rare day. Sometime like you come and visit us. We love the visitors on the island, allowed us who shall never leave the island, to befriend new people, learn new story and add to the myth and tale of Idyllic. Maybe one day, you can return to the island and stay. We need a tavern poet. The Captain is the lake poet, he won’t drink the alcohol he create, he said the drink of madness shall never touch his lips again. No taverns for the Captain. I see the Hemingway sickness in your voice, in your eyes. Finding salvation in the whiskey and the gin. Even Hemingway found his island, he stay awhile and he is on the South American coastline now, sharing drink with Ezra Pound, James Joyce, Fitzgerald and Ford Maddox Ford. They are watching the giant iguanas on the Galapagos islands. Johnnie, silence is necessary, but we can’t swim in negative things forever. We will never forget the people we loved. I can see your brothers, together, dancing with your Ojibwa grandmother at the never-ending pow-wow in the clouds. They have found some kind of peace. Some of us, cannot accept the struggle of living.
I asked her, why can’t I stay here with you at Idyllic? If I wanted. She smiled and she told me. Dear Luna creates the island for us, without homes anymore. She sought us out who became nameless and forgotten. Everyone here had a grand tale of places, great adventure and never-ending heartbreak. Tomorrow I will share some of my stories of adventure, disappointment and a happy ending. You are not ready yet dear Johnnie. Luna can finish the answer to your question at lunch. She is the seeker, the oldest of us. She is the moon who watches the night. She had heard the secret tears, the joy of happiness and a billion wishes. The island was created by Luna. I told you, Idyllic found you, allowed you in.
She saw great sadness in my face and she stopped talking. She kissed my face and she held me close. I asked her, do you truly believe my brothers found peace? How can call of death overtake the willingness to live? I heard the whispers of death often. Life is sweet, death is sweet, life is hard and death is easy. She whispered to me. We cannot control the wind, we cannot master the sea and the star are forever. Each of us walk on the tapestry of a thread. Some of us are barely holding on and some of us are like the mountains. Already steady and strong. All you can do Johnnie, is your best. Sometimes we feel like we didn’t do enough. We accept the pain of another, even if we tried to help.
The walk to the restaurant was wonderful. So much ancient art, wildflower fields and beautiful wild roses beginning to bloom. Nicole held my hand with a gentle touch. I was feeling better.
We arrived at Luna’s restaurant. She had a set-up of many kinds of fruit and small sandwiches. She had hot water for the many tea bags on the table and prepared strong coffee for me. She had cakes, cream and sugar waiting for us. She was wearing a summer dress, showing strong shoulders and arms, sun-kissed legs I adored. I loved her red hair and her eyes of gentleness and kindness. She looked at me like a grandmother looked at her grandchild. She said welcome back Johnnie. I hope you are enjoying Idyllic. She went to Nicole, kissed her face and her lips. She came to me and she kissed my forehead and my face-cheeks. She told us to sit down and enjoy the food. She sat with us and she asked me. I hope you are finding Idyllic kind and wonderful. If you need anything, please ask. She touched my knees and she told me. No strangers today at the island today.
She looked at Nicole and she told her. A small brunch, the town is very quiet this afternoon. Everyone is excited. The Island songbird Alya is here. She will sing for us at five pm. We are very lucky, every April and May, Alya visit us. She is a blessing to our world, her song is needed and they are blessed. I went to save her once and she saved me. All of us need the mercy of kindness. This is why you are still with us. My friend, Morningstar, a caretaker, she told me of your sadness. Morningstar listens to the wind and she felt you’re suffering. She led you to Idyllic before you made the final journey. Morningstar told me. You have much to do still. Life can be seconds, minutes, hours and days. Something is coming your way and a dead Johnnie. Please don’t steal away the possibilities you can do. We must make every second, joyful and worthwhile my new friend. Some of us are saviors, some of us are great lovers and some of us are teachers. Johnnie, your Hemingway journey hadn’t begun. Now, no-more talk. Please enjoy the food.
I looked at her and I asked her. Dear Luna, Idyllic, is this real or a dream? She laughed at my words and she told us. Real life or not, we never know. I hope you are having a good dream. Life can be trickery. Could be a dream, could be myth or tale. I pray a good dream, Johnnie. I told her. This is utopia. She took my right hand and she kissed it. She smiled and she told me. Me and Nicole, we love utopia. I told my friend Jerzy to bring his homemade Ambrosia wine to the concert today. Jerzy is our greatest writer on the island. I found him alone with plastic bag and a death wish 40 years ago. Now he is the island wine maker, and he can tell you a million stories of life. He told me often. In a lifetime, we will live a thousand lives and die a thousand times. If we are lucky, we will find peace, good wine and befriend many kind people. He is on the wall dancing with Nicole.
I held silence and I wanted this dream to never-end. The sandwiches were wonderful and the coffee very strong. Nicole and Luna drank their tea slowly, adding cinnamon and a touch of honey to the lavender tea. I watched their faces, their faces, youthful, no scars. They looked like ageless beauties. I loved the curves of their face, the faces of the ancient goddesses. Their bare shoulders uncovered and tanned legs made me feel like a man in a Dante’s story. I reached over and I kissed Nicole right shoulder. She tasted of salt and I told her. I wanted to know if you were real, not a dream only. She laughed, she smiled and she told me. A Greek law, if you kissed me one shoulder, you must kiss the other shoulder too. I kissed her left shoulder, and I laid my head against her. She caressed my hair and my face, she whispered. We must return home. You promised Lana, you would allow her to paint your face. You must sit near the lake and be painted. She does canvas first and later. Add your face to the wall of the bridge. Lana liked timeliness, she knows, she had two days for you to sit for her. One day, you will return to us, and she will paint your old face.
I asked her. What if I don’t want to leave idyllic? She smiled and she whispered, in time, the island will accept you. Your life isn’t written in stone yet. We decide our journey, wrong or right. You will play many people Johnnie. Tonight, when the moon is above us. I will tell you my story, at least, pieces of my story. I have lived many lives, held many faces and thanked you God for Luna. I was living a life of the spiral of confusion. Idyllic gave me a place where I could heal. Now I am a healer and a naturist. You must decide your life. I laughed at her words and she told me. If the wine is tasty tonight, you could see two muses, maybe sirens dancing for Lake Superior. Luna smiled and she told us. I may join the dance of late Spring. It is a warm and wonderful Mayday. She look at Nicole and she told her. Nicole, please tempt the sailors no-more tonight and Johnnie. Please enjoy Idyllic and tonight I will share a handful of knowledge and gossip. Please remember your Ojibwa heritage. This island given to us by the ancient tribe. The old one’s allowed us to stay with them. Allowed me to find a safe place for the people who needed a place to rest, utopia. One day, when your body is tired, Idyllic will allow you to return, to stay with us. Become part of Idyllic myth and tale. Nicole tapped my shoulder and she whispered. Lana shall be waiting and we left for the cottage.
Coyote
The Island- Part six
Nicole took me to Lana. She was waiting and she was talking to a beautiful woman with wild and fierce hazel eyes and the reddest hair I had ever saw. The woman rose-up and came to me. She hugged me and she told me, my name is Boadicea, welcome to the Island. You can call me Lilly. I heard great things about you, always nice to have a poet on Idyllic. We need words, we need song and we need a safe place to rest. I have been here for almost a thousand years. I hope you find time for a long talk with me. I love discussing the old and the new world. Maybe I could teach you something worthwhile. She returned to Lana, kissed both her face cheeks and she came back to me. Kissed my forehead and she whispered. We can overcome all things and she wandered off.
Lana sat in her seat, the canvas and the paint near. She smiled and she laughed. Here in Idyllic, many interesting people had found their utopia. Dear Lily, a great healer. Once she knew war and violence, now she is part of the Idyllic myth and tale. She is the balance on the island. Ensure we don’t forget who we were. Please Johnnie, sit down and I will tell you some stories if you like. I sat near her and she asked. Look toward the lake please.
She begins to paint and I watched the Lake Superior. She told me. Lily was second. She lost her world and Luna found her. Luna brought her here. The ancient Ojibwa thoughts they were medicine women or Shaman women. Luna found the island and the Ojibwa people near left her alone. They knew, she wanted silence. She heard a child sick and dying. The child was sick with a stomach ailment, and she made a dish of vegetables and dandelions root. The child begins to heal with the cleansing of the sour stomach. After this incident, the Ojibwa came often for healing. One night, Chief Raven came and he told her. If you want, please stay on the island. We see the pain in your eyes and the big water is a healer. Lake Gichigama will protect you and thank you for being befriended us. It is sad, no-more Ojibwa come to us. I believe few are left with the ancient knowledge. Luna brought Lily here after the battle where Rome destroyed the Druids and her Army. She held silence for a hundred years, Luna told me. Lily is very wise and she became a Native American myth; they called her Morningstar. She taught the Iceni natural cures to the natives. I asked her. How did you come to the island?
She smiled and she told him. Lana is my third name. Once I was Natae, once I was DeaMeuna. Now I am Lana. I saw terrible things in my lifetime and one day. I decided death was sweeter than life. I create a deadly poison to put me into a permanent sleep. Luna appeared at my door and I allowed her in. She held me like a child and we cried together for hours. She told me, dear Natae, goddess of purity and kindness. Please come with me to Idyllic and maybe you can learn some kind of peace. I went with her and I met Lily. I knew Boudica and she had transformed to a beautiful spirit. Lily never left my side for a hundred years. We became the healers for the ancient Ojibwa, and they built the wood bridge for us. They would bring fresh food to us and we use to, with our Ojibwa tribes near. Celebrate the birth of Spring and the sleep of Winter. I started to paint the bridge and now. The bridge tells the story of many. I asked her. Is this dream dear Lana? I came to die and now I am surrounded by the beauty of Idyllic and the kind people. Why am I worth saving?
Lana stopped painting and she looked deeply into my eyes. She whispered, you are not done yet Johnnie. Lake Gichigama brought you to us. The island is hidden from the view of people unless you are called to her. Idyllic had many people with heavy stories. Once I lost everyone and everything. I wanted to kill everything that destroyed my world. I decided death was better than hateful life. I was saved by dear Luna. I believe the island wanted to save you. I asked her. Why do I need to be saved? I am just a man. One less man who was careless and cold, he would not be missed. Lana stood up and she came to me and she whispered. We are like the sea, rocking and a rolling to life destiny. We don’t know the reasons we are upon this earth. Maybe you will save one and find your heart, maybe you will save many and save your soul. Took me saving a thousand people lives to heal. Once my dreams were nightmares and tears. I remember the Ojibwa children called me “The Moon”. They would bring me small gifts, and we would dance by the big lake. I assisted in the birth of many babies. In the babies’ eyes, I learn. I wasn’t done yet and you are not done yet.
Dancing Coyote
The Island- Chapter seven
A Chapter by Coyote Poetry
Life is to be lived
The Island. Chapter seven.
Lana watched my eyes and I told her. I am glad I found the Island and everyone had been so kind to me. Idyllic is a miracle and a blessing. I was seeking ending and today. I don’t know? Lana embraced me and she whispered. All of us have fallen often and we must rise-up and become stronger. This is what the wise and strong people do. You came here to Idyllic to gain strength and one day. You will become a teacher. I will tell you some of my tale tomorrow at noon. You, Nicole and I will eat lunch near Lake Gichigami. Now allow me to finish my painting. I have you today and in the morning tomorrow. My brush need silence to work dear Johnnie. I watched her hand move with great skill and her eyes. They were like the sea blue sea today. She was a beauty for the ages. I sat in silence till a pretty woman appeared. She went to Lana and they embraced and kissed. Lana turned and she introduced Isabella to me. I reached my hand to her and Isabella pulled me up toward her and she embraced me tightly. She whispered, we are not strangers on this Island. Petty friends are never allowed here. The Big Water and Idyllic invited you here and now you are part of the family. We are the leftovers and the greatest storytellers. I know Lana loved her silence and the brush. I heard you were here and I brought a bottle of Jerzy’s Michigan cherry wine and I am willing to talk. And also I am a healing. I am old school, no drugs, just natural herbs and natural lotions. I believe the human touch is needed to awake our sleeping spirit. When we walk alone, we fall alone. The Morningstar whispers, brought you to the island. I watched her face when she spoke. I loved her tie-dye Summer dress and I loved her long dark brown hair, darkest brown eyes I ever seen. She looked very young, but her eyes. Had the look of the ancient people. She was slender and she had powerful legs and body.
She went to the kitchen and she found the wine opener and she brought back two glasses. She smiled and she told me. When Lana is painting, no drinking the Bacchus wine when she is painting. Rumor had it, Bacchus was my father and she laughed. I do enjoy his wine and she poured the wine into the wine glasses. Lana smiled and she told her. After the wine, maybe a face massage for Johnnie. Your hands can create miracles and save the souls of the lost. Lana looked at me. The story told that Isabella had saved many kings, soldiers and gods. And she had retired some too. Isabella watched my face and she told me. I see the great sadness in your face; I see the sorrow in your eyes. When we are young, we believe we can save the world and one day. We learn, the world sits on a thin edge and we are just dancers trying to keep our balance and not fall into the chaos. In my lifetime, I saved many and I lost many. I have loved and lost. Many years ago, Luna found me. I learn the gods cannot be killed, cannot die. Most of the old gods found solitude and left the earth. Luna held me for many days and she whispered. Dear healer, my kindest and honest friend. Follow me to a safe haven. She brought me to the Big Water and I found my place to rest and heal. Now we must drink the Bacchus wine, you have two hours till Lana is done with you. She handed me the wine and we tapped the glasses and we drank the Cherry wine. I asked Isabella, does one life matter? Are we falling stars falling toward the earth without reason or purpose? Can one person change our world? Life and death. Is it just opportunity for us to steal and borrow?
She put down her wine glass and she came to me. She unbutton my shirt and my shirt fell to the ground. She stood behind me and her hands moved slowly through my hair. She sang a song lowly.
“Slowly we must go,
easy we must move,
no easy life,
life is hard Winter and kind Spring.
Life is hot Summer days and the Fall change of color.
We are just like the dancing wind.
Just seeking our proper place,
just seeking the kiss of happiness.
Slowly we must go,
easy we must move.
We are the create of our path.”
Her hands were skilled. Her movement organized and she had reason and purpose for every movement of her fingers. She told me, the hair, the face, the neck. Need to be brought to life, the healing of the human touch can save our spirit, our world. Her gentle touch made me close my eyes and my mind quit thinking. I forgot all the heavy weights of life, I was carrying. She whispered a song to me as I fell into deep meditation. She sang.
“We need barefoot days,
we need the big water near.
We need kind voices,
we need the Bacchus wine and the sweetest song.
You and I.
We must seek the wanderlust and be fearless.
The broken heart shall heal,
the broken heart shall be tested.
Love is life and life is love.”
Lana told us. Isabella, we have a concert to prepare for. Johnnie, tomorrow at nine. Be here, please. I told her. Okay dear Lana and he looked into Isabella eyes and I told her. Thank you, dear lady. I feel lighter and what can I do for you? You have been so kind to me. Isabella embraced me and she told me. Live, just live. Morningstar told us. You have a thousand journey to accomplish. She kissed my face and she told me. If we save one life, we know love. If we save many lives, we can know peace.
Dancing Coyote