There’s a church;
There’s a church in every northern town
Weathered panels and an empty bell tower
The wind howls

In the store;
In the store there’s treasures from the south
But they don’t bring us any real wealth
The empty shelves

I was born here in the summer
Then we didn’t live in ice anymore
When we settled in the house
We were getting used to walls
Feeling underground

I went to sleep and don’t remember
It seemed the sun would never go down
We used to chase the change of seasons
Now we stay in place

I took a ride;
I took a ride out on the snowmobile
On the horizon saw the ringed seals
A new year

I lay down;
I lay down and move so patiently
The snow reflects the sun and hides me
My stomach growls

I was born here in the summer
Then we didn’t live in ice anymore
When they came and killed the dogs
People started staying home
Drinking alcohol

I went to sleep and don’t remember
The elders hunted for us somehow
Water freezes every winter
But not the same way

I was eight;
I was eight when I was taken there
They called it a school but it was more like jail
A tall tale

When I returned
When I returned and heard my parents speak
I’d lost their language in a dark sea
Sinking

I was born here in the summer
Then we didn’t live in ice anymore
When they turned us into pawns
And the game was played with hearts
Fear was all around

I went to sleep and don’t remember
All the ones who never were found
I see the dead among our living
But the crime remains

There’s a land;
There’s a land that soaked up all the blood
It clings to everything like dried mud
A dust cloud

There are songs;
There are songs that we were forced to sing
But it’s the drum connecting everything
Still beating

I was born here in the summer
Then we didn’t live in ice anymore
When I look into the past
I see the pride behind our eyes
It’s the northern light

And though I sleep inside a memory
Through my window comes a soft sound
I can hear my children laughing