i learned
to throw rocks
up into the air
above my head
because this way
they would always
come back to me
no matter the injury
i wouldn’t be alone
though blood flowed
red across my face
Mr. misanthropic disgrace
i still had my stone
and a broken bone
to while away
the hours of this life
there would be trees
so much green
in your name
In my name
Because my name
is in the land
and in my bones
the saint of
our land
Her name,
Tekakwitha
Kateri
My patron
My Canada