Cree Literacy Network

tâpiskôc otêhimin “just like a strawberry” – or “heart berry” if you translate more literally from Cree. Thank you, Naomi McIlwraith, for sharing these sweet, tangy, and even silly thoughts of love in a cold climate.

tâpiskôc otêhimin, my heart pumps for you
even during an ass-biting, bone-snapping POLAR VORTEX!

Like a strawberry, my heart jumps for you
even during the coldest, longest, star-twinklingest night of the year…

tâpiskôc otêhimin, my heart thumps for you
especially during the hottest, longest, sun-shinyest day of the year…

Like a strawberry, my heart DA-DUMs for you
because you’re my DA-DUM DA-DUM onomatopoeia!

tâpiskôc otêhimin, my heart thrums for you
just like fresh morning mist on that one luscious otêhimin…

Like a strawberry, my heart is soft only for you ‒
tâpiskôc otêhimin, ê-yôskitêhêstamâtân kiya piko.

tâpiskôc otêhimin, I love you!
Like a strawberry, kisâkihitin!