Rain falls on Red Lake, doesn’t make a sound,
All the dogs are barking, in Koeshner
As I pass their backyards and walk around town.,
My gypsy footsteps echo the street
Ghosts hang from trees here, in Koeshner,
I’m a back road’s stranger finding my beat.
The road don’t go much farther north of here,
And my ignorance shows through I have had no share
Of that world but I’m driven past that last stop light,
And I am bound north of Red Lake
I met an old man on Red Lake,
He looked only thirty but he’s aged
Thirty years since he came to Red Lake,
He goes to the legion on Friday night
With the MNR boys and I watch him,
Drink Ex, play crib, and smoke his pipe
But he gets it. He’s an old boy now talkin’ ‘bout young bucks,
And talkin’ bout how that fish got away,
Said “if you don’t find what you’re lookin’ for here today,
The road don’t go much farther north of here
And your ignorance shows through you have had no share,
Of that world” but I’m driven past that last stop light
And I am bound north of Red Lake.
I have a friend who has been far north,
I said “take me with you” but he laughed
And asked “whatever for”,
He held his hand out, gave me a gift
A little bear to show me my way north,
Now it was my turn to laugh at this
But he gets it. He’s an old boy now;
He’s been where I am, And he knows how it’s hard to find your way,
Said “if you don’t find what you’re lookin’ for here today,
The road don’t go much farther north of here
And your ignorance shows through you have had no share,
Of that world” but I’m driven past that last stop light
And I am bound north of Red Lake.
Copyright Kate Weekes 2007