My Indian Man

Little did I know that the Canadian I fell in love with and married was so much more the man for his rich family genealogy

Was varied
His father's people immigrated from Scotland, Ireland and England
And on his mother's side, a surprising breakthrough came to hand.

His mother descended from Newfoundlanders and French Acadians
Also Native Mi'kmaqs who came to be known as the Bras d'Or Indians
Escaping deportation, his people fled to Bras d'Or, Cape Breton Island
Just a stone's throw away from where he grew up on seashore sand.

And though he is of European stock, he is first a Native American
Though he appears white, he shows physical attributes of an Indian
Though he never learned Indian ways, he always followed his heart
In his greatest need, he fasted four days to seek out the Great Spirit.

Always observant of his surroundings, he was always seeking signs
Whether through nature, prayer or coincidence, his path he'd find
Sometimes mysterious, there was never a more gentle and wise soul
He shunned western medicine and dogma and opted to live whole.

I fell in love with this man's deep almond-shaped hazel green eyes
The thick eyelids and the curious dark melanin spot in both irises
The sometimes lazy eye that seemed to focus on the outer edge
The glasses he wore on his high cheekbones were often smudged.

When he was younger, he had two large front teeth with a slight gap
With hidden shovel teeth, he'd flash a big smile and give a gentle laugh
He always loved running everywhere (still does) and was always fleet
Perhaps it was that extra ridge of bone along the outside of his feet.

His long slender and crooked fingers and toes have served him well
No half crescents shine on his fingernails but only on his thumbnails
These features are the visible proof of his Native American heritage
Of the genuine love we share for all creation, there is no shortage.

Written by Ipo*

August 30, 2007

*Ipo is my pen name and is part of my middle name, Kuu Ipo, which is Hawaiian for "My Sweetheart." My grandmother was a native Hawaiian and my husband Harvey Bond is a Native American-French Acadian. He was born on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. We presently live in Bay City, Michigan. ~Melanie "Melly Ipozo" Bond