“I dreamed I killed a seal last night” by Marie Huskey

I dreamed I killed a seal last night

I dreamed I killed a seal last night.
I sat in my umiak
my muluks in two inches of water
and my hands high above my head.

Harpoon in my hands
I asked him politely if we may eat him.

I wrapped my parka close against me
and pulled him ashore.

My body split in half
I gave thanks to the Creator
as I sat at the table and
spoke my native tongue
for the first time and
all the Inuits ate for the next
500 years.

Marie Huskey

11/5/02