Keep The Boat Pointed North

Swedish steel on the railing, frost crusted in my beard We head north where the sky turns sickly green and blurred Got my brothers at my back, my mother in my head Family at the fire, that's the reason we break bread Odin in the stories, his raven on my arm We carry that old hunger, keeping us from harm My chest feels heavy, but I keep the oar straight I want to come back home with my head up at the gate The ice keeps talking loud, rattling in the seam Still I see that cabin light like it’s calling me One more hard mile, one more push through the grey Then I’ll set this weight down where the table stays Keep the boat pointed north, let the cold cut clean We don't bend, we don't fold, we just hold that beam With the wood in our hands and the smoke in our clothes We row through the dark for the place we know Keep the boat pointed north, through the sleet and spray If I lose my footing, pull me back that way I got blood, I got names, I got something to protect So I’m coming back steady, with my boots still wet Salt on the cuffs of my coat, pine sap on my gloves We passed the last warm harbor with a nod instead of love Lanterns on the dock fell small behind the fog Now the hull keeps singing like a hymn under the logs My brother checks the rope, says the ice is getting mean I laugh and taste the metal of the wind between my teeth There’s a chair by the window with my name in the wood That’s enough to keep me moving like I knew it would The ice keeps talking loud, rattling in the seam Still I see that cabin light like it’s calling me One more hard mile, one more push through the grey Then I’ll set this weight down where the table stays If the water takes a swing, I know what’s on the line A chipped blue mug, the boots lined up by the pine No gold in my pocket, just a key and a scar And the sound of my own breath keeping time with the oars So let the dark get louder, let the ice wear thin I’ve been this far before and I’m not giving in Keep the boat pointed north, let the cold cut clean We don't bend, we don't fold, we just hold that beam With the wood in our hands and the smoke in our clothes We row through the dark for the place we know Keep the boat pointed north, through the sleet and spray If I lose my footing, pull me back that way I got blood, I got names, I got something to protect So I’m coming back steady, with my boots still wet By the time the shore shows up, the moon’s gone dull and thin We drag the boat on gravel, let the cold sink in My sister’s at the door before I even knock She’s got the kettle on and a look that says it’s done The dogs start barking like they heard us miles ago My father takes my coat and shakes the frost loose slow No speeches, just the chair pulled out from the wall And the whole room breathing easy, like it knew my name at all Set the oar by the stove, let the wet boots dry Hands around the table while the embers climb North can keep its winter, I’ve got home in view I came back with the cold on me, and less to prove