The Sea Who Named Itself

You should use the pronoun “that” when you’re referring to an object

or a living creature without a name, which leaves the pronoun “who”

for when you’re referencing a person or living thing that is named.

~Candace Osmond, the Grammarist

Lushootseed comes from two words, one meaning "salt water"

and the other meaning "language," and refers to the common

language, made up of many local dialects, that was spoken

throughout the region. ~Coll-Peter Thrush, historian, University of Washington

Is spoken. Is.

The Salish name of Puget Sound

is Whulj: the sea we know,

our salt water. Home.

Wade in up to your chin.

Listen.

The shore, incessant, whispers it:

whulj, whulj, whulj, whulj

Even seals know it,

spoke Lushootseed

long before a white man sailed,

picking names like nits

from his powdered wig

to plot a sea

who never needed him.