Imprints of the ancestors

Their memories just beneath my skin

A shame instilled upon me

By those who stole

Great-grandmother’s tongue

My connection to the home land

Overtaken by

The desire to belong on

Foreign soil

But when I close my eyes

I’m pulled towards the endless

Blue tide

The salty sea air

Warm like a mother’s embrace

One day

I’ll return to the Peaceful Sea

And crawl into the lapping waves

And I’ll be recognized

As one of Her own



                                                                  
GALA MACKIE-PEREZ is an undeclared freshman. She was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. Gala recently married a loving husband, and is enjoying each day as it comes.