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.

WHILE WE ARE APART

Today I cannot be with you
           Cannot touch your face
           Cannot hold you tight.
Today we must stay apart
               Must keep our distance
               Must hold our patience.

 But today I can think of you
               Can hear you voice
               Can see your face.
And today I can send my love
               Can wish you well
               Can say your name.

And while we must be apart
I hold a place deep in my heart
Until we can be together
Our hearts are closely linked forever.

INTO THE ABYSS

In the '80s I did a poetry workshop with the late poet Gwendolyn MacEwen. She was brilliant and intense. So much so that I didn't write poetry for a long time for fear that I would sink

Out of confusion comes a light
further on the road ahead
than I had thought to travel.
A guiding light, or a warning
sight of you inspires me 
to venture on the untrodden path.
Ahead, the black abyss beckons
with uncertain promise.
My body, willing to accede, stops,
distorts, teeters on the brink
Held back by doubting mind,
resisting the awful unknown.
Fear and bias tear the joy apart
if truth could be obscured.
But your ray still shines
across the deep abyss.
And knowing you have travelled there, 
I will surely follow.

THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM

 

There is a stillness in the air today
As if the world could hold its breath
And pause for quiet contemplation.
Like the calm before a storm.
 
Tomorrow there will be lashing wind
Dark clouds to hide the sun
Pelting rain and branches flying
Damage and unforeseen destruction.
A time to hunker down and wait
To stay inside ‘till all is clear.
 
For the storm will surely pass
And rays of sun will warm the earth
Fresh air will blow the clouds away.
The earth will flourish, flowers bloom
The bees and the butterflies
Will settle down on bursting buds
And crops will fill the farmer’s fields.
And birds will fill the air with song
 
And slowly things will right themselves
Although not quite the same.
And there will be time to pause
To stop, consider and give thanks
Count blessings. And mourn too.
And we’ll shake our heads and wonder often
How did that storm approach so fast?
How did we miss the warning signs?
 
There is a stillness in the air today
Like the calm before a storm.

ARRRGH! THE HOUSE SHRANK

 

Wasn't gone for long, just to get some essentials.
Costco line was quite long, carts snaking outside
Proper social distance apart, of course.
Few people inside, the store was so spacious.
Shelves mostly well stocked, ‘cept for TP of course.
Driving home empty roads seem unusually wide.
But while I was gone, THE HOUSE SHRANK.
Two week’s worth of supplies, the bags fill the hall.
No place to walk. Ouch, that’s Lego underfoot.
And there’s such a lot, even under the couch.
No room for the food; did the fridge shrink?
Where’s my favourite chair; I’m sure I left it there.
Aha, its part of a fort of pillows and sheets.
And who’s been on my computer playing solitaire?
Oops. That might have been me.
Help! My brain shrank!
What to do? What to do?
Breathe in and breathe out.
Tearing my hair…
No stop that, the salon is closed
The dentist too, so no grinding of teeth.
Stamping my feet, I let out a yell… ARRRGH!!!
The kids follow suit. They stamp their feet too
And soon there’s a rhythm, a good solid beat.
We troop outside to the front of the house
Stamping and clapping and singing too.
Some neighbours applaud and add to the noise
With clanging of pots and improvised drums.
Amidst laughter and giggles, we all call together
“Stay safe and stay home. We’re in this together.”
I find space in the fridge for all the fresh food
The rest of the groceries can be piled and wait
We eat lunch in the fort and looking around
I see that the house has adjusted; its just the right size.

HAIKU 3

 

THE OONISTS

 

Today is April 1, so you know what that means…no, not April Fool’s Day.

Today is the start of Poetry Month. But instead of a poem, I am subjecting you to a badly written rallying song, which I wrote collaboratively when I was 15. But first, a rambling intro.

I spent 10½ years at a strict, all-girls, Catholic boarding school. That means long periods of isolation from families and the outside world. On the last day of school, I felt as if I had been given a reprieve from a life sentence. But my friends and I huddled together and cried. Because now we had to face reality; choosing our career path; earning a living – yikes; socializing with boys – double yikes. Worst of all, we were moving on and away from the close comfort of each other. Lifelong friends, closer than sisters. Friends are what made the strict regulations of boarding school bearable.

As part of our survival strategy, four of us formed a group – not quite a gang – and called ourselves the Oonsists. Later one more person was inducted into the group. We wasted almost a roll of TP on a scroll for her investiture. (Note: Boarding school TP is very tough, you could easily use it to make face masks.)

And now, if you are still reading, here is our rallying cry. It is meant to be intoned, with a ponderous beat and a slight cadence at the end. It’s best chanted while marching aimlessly around a room. Try it.

WE ARE THE OONISTS  FOUR  FAITHFUL TRUE AND STRONG.
WE STAND FOREVER MORE, WITH LAUGHTER AND A SONG.
OUR MOTTO IS BE FAITHFUL. WE’LL BACK IT TO THE LAST.
BRAVE, BOLD, BELLIGERENT; WE’RE THOROUGH, TRUE AND FAST.

Oonisities to  all.