In this story rivers bear huge beaver lodges and flotillas

Of ducks. Fish teem under every snag and no one bothers them.

In this story the skies are pitch and the stars have actual faces

Dogs roam in packs at night and no one bothers them

In this story there is lots of snow. Lakes freeze solid

Bison cross them single file and no one bothers them

In this story prairies roar with wind and herds stampede

Fires burn forever and no one bothers them

In this story boreal forests creep down from the tundra

Bringing white tigers and snow leopards and no one bothers them

In this story there is no history. No songs, no poems, no sagas

There are many dead but no one bothers them

In this story there is no one to tell this story