Gaet-markers Poem by Christine De Luca

for Gabriel Lalonde, artist, Québec

At da stert, dey wir a makkin o wirds.
Some o da aerliest wis shurley 'haem'
an wirds for seekin hit whan lost; for
whan horizons mizzle awa, an aathin is
shadit greys. For whan we can scrime
nedder sun trowe ask nor starn trowe
clood. Or, at sea, whan hoops draps
laek a dorro an da haand apön da tiller
trivvels for meanin, an we glinder
for safe haven, relief o kent banks.

Some o da best wirds is for finnin
da gaet: meids to line up Ithaca or
Isbister, hit's aa da sam; rönnies
apön a steekit kame - laek inuksuit,
gaet-markers o da icy wastes;
blinkies for lichtin trenkies i da mirk;
Polaris, preened tae da heevens,
pin-pointin wis; buoys ta shaa a channel
free o baas; an Möder Dy - inhad,
a readin o undertow ta bring wis haem.