Dear Tokitae

Oh Tokitae, dear orca sacred

Coming home to your sea family

Cool Salish waters prepared

To finally welcome thee

Last dear creature of your kind

To be freed from cruel captivity

No more shows for entertainment

No more glitzy tickets sold

At the expense of your life fulfillment

A once radical idea, made bold

To release all Orcas from enslavement

Oh dear Tokitae, did you know?

The human children here made art

To welcome you back home

Alas your whale body gave way

Before your journey could be made

May we remember you by name

May we expand on ideas bold!

With new fervor, Not in vain

Oh dear Tokitae, May you know

How many revered you—in behold

How our hope of hellos

became the grief of our goodbyes

From the skies of sea glow

May you see the Art story told

In your honor—May all hearts grow

Dear Tokitae of Salish Sea

May you rest now

in the salty sea of our collective tears

Knowing you are beloved

Blessed be.