For Ruth Mary Engel

 Special poem for a special lady on a special (90^th) birthday.

Ruth Mary
I see you on your deck in calm contemplation,
the river, flowing calmly, wide as a lake,
a cliff-drop below you.

Close your eyes. 
Feel the breeze.
Hear the call of the loon.

Let Engeland embrace you.

Without turning your head you sense all of its parts.
Unerringly you trace the path to the Green Cottage 
on its perch overlooking Snake Rock and the new bunkie.

Smell the fragrance of pine.Touch the texture of rock

You know every contour of the steps
passed the laundry, to the beach.
Your toes touch the rock
where you start your daily swim
the water smooth as silk,
refreshing you, body and soul.
Close by is the Hex, whose every corner
you know so well.
There's the trailer and a small climb to the Mouse House.

You smell the crackling fire in a firepit, 
or perhaps one of Dwight's special, roaring brush fires.
You know every rock that gives the landscape its personality.

You hear,
family chatter
the sound of laughter
the splash of swimmers
the chug of an ancient motor;
the delicious sound of silence.

You remember
moments shared,
moments of solitude
moments to cherish.

Engeland, your spiritual home 
embraces you, and you are blessed.

TO JACKIE

 To my beautiful daughter Jackie, on her birthday. 

Jackie, at 18 months \

You are
    Like the sun that brightens every day
    bringing warmth and comfort on the way.
You are
    Like the moon travelling through the night
    guiding with its gentle light
You are;
    Like the stars that twinkle in the sky
    sparkling brightly way up high
You are
    Like raindrops falling gently down
    helping fragrant flowers bloom
You
    bring fun, good food and laughter
    as a mother, sister, wife and daughter
I see
     how wise you have become
     in your journeys around the sun.
 
And as you start one more circle
I wish you joy and love eternal.

A CHERUB'S TALE

Did you hear about the cherub who lost her wings?
Playing some games amongst other things,
Like chasing through rainbows,
Dancing with butterflies 'n crows,
She hit an archangel with a halo toss
Which ended up being a bit of a loss.
For her wings were clipped short
Which meant, so it said in the report,
That she got a demotion
Or, some might see it a promotion.
She was sent down to earth
To celebrate her birth.
She was born with cute dimples and a mischievous grin
And from the start she fitted right in.
With time she grew beautiful and bright
Still dances with butterflies when they take flight.
And today on her birthday, I would just like to say
“We’re so blessed that you came here to stay.”
So last laugh’s on the archangel way up high.
Cherubs don’t need their wings in order to fly.

Third prize winner in the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 270 Coldwater Seniors Literary Competition, 2022