Adventures

chair glides back and forth
stories spill out total truth
we are mesmerized

Playing God

in the lingering warmth of a sweaty august day
I crumple newsprint under twigs and leaves and
begin to burn flames starting tentative then growing
as I add old pallets and paneling and dead branches
from a pile in the woods orange fingers grab the
wood and reduce it to black glowing embers and
then to ash which either falls to the bottom of the
fire pit or drifts upward with the smoke in the wind
until it cools and then settles on the grass or the roof
of the house or the sidewalk where no one will take
notice the molecules of the burnt wood freed from
each other and on an endless journey

Any Dream Will Do?

at first
distant boom
thunder
but it could have been anything

then
hissing noise
on the roof
but we couldn’t see any rain in the trees surrounding the dome

music started
any dream will do
after song
it was definitely rain on the roof

and we could see it coming down
------hard
-----------with hailstones pinging on the metal

show stopped
while lightning did its thing
cracks splitting the din

dry and secure
under plexiglass dome
as storm fascinated gazing
eyes
and ears

what dream were we having
fame
success
love
or was it a strange night-time dream
of water coming up
------through crazy cracks
-------------in basement
--------------------trying to sop/mop it all up
it needs interpretation
like Joseph
who sang of rainbow coats
--------on the rainbow stage
----------------during a dreamlike storm

The Rudder

rough wooden rudder feels
good and
true in
my hand

as I uncertainly
-------angle the yacht
-------------against the stiff breeze
white fibreglass and triangle sails
the lake a shimmering highway of discovery

moving my hand one inch
makes the bow turn three feet

for thousands of years
people have sailed this way
wind harnessed by billowing sails
my hand holding steady

Sailing

waves lap against boat
wind ruffles white sails stiffen
angling cutting peace

Wedding Picture (August 18th)

we are in profile
your hand is on my chest as if to
push away
-------or about to grab my lapel
my black bow tie
-------partially hidden by my chin
your white hat angled up
-------frames your cream-like face
a red rose pinned to my suit
-------proves the picture is in colour
you’re looking up
I’m looking down
-------into your eyes

we are young
happy
swimming in a pool of love

this is hours before the wedding
in a little brightly lit studio
in Saskatoon

foreheads touching
laughter beginning to bubble up
an unguarded moment
caught
together
forever

Daughter and Dad

two hands one from fifteen-year-old girl blonde beauty
one from graying man raised collide a high five slap
after dimpled ball rolls across manicured grass
twenty-five feet dropping into hole perfectly putted
coming after stuttering struggles six strokes on one green
club grazing top of teed ball swing after swing after swing
on unforgiving fairway ball plopping in the water angling
into bush

then this moment of pure joy and
someone to celebrate with

Rainy Day

I sit on navy leather
savouring
crimson cherries
pits pinking white napkin on armrest

wind whipped drops
splash puddle
at end of driveway

golf lights up television
voices hushed
hailing sunny shots

a day inside walls
with the wonder of
home

Family Toast

long-stemmed clear goblets collide over dark table
declaring sixty years
white hair
resigned smile
she holds her glass
contemplating five lives formed
extended like limbs shooting out
over lawn
leaves fluttering in blustery gusts

our cupped hands return to own
winds waving

Heartburn

a forest fire in my chest
under red shirt
below thoughts of aging and
the need to eat better
inside house of carpets and white walls filled with framed creation
in the center of green grass and trees and living flowers
in the town of gray gravel and pavement
in the prairie of flat fields and tree lines
under sky of wind-formed clouds and sun breaking through
shining on
fires in Russia
floods in Pakistan
ice-cap melting

Verenicki

pale plump triangle
one of many on my plate
pocket of goodness

Gerald at the Beach

you loved shaping-----constructing
long snaky rivers
with reservoirs and castles
running back and forth pails in each hand
filling sandy holes
directing rivulets back towards lake

sitting in the sand stick-like legs doubled under
blue trunks covering thighs
spindle eight-year old arms braced at the side
head topped by white glow
-------reflecting sun’s shimmer
sand in piles around you

your building project
like your blocks in the basement
-------variations on the feed mill theme

a lone figure
water green and white
stretched out behind you
set
determined
your project

Willing Helper

you had to stand at a chair at the counter
white bowl
--------held with left hand
right hand
--------stirring batter
---------------with wooden spoon

mini-apron red polka-dots
sleeves pushed up
straight silky hair
--------shimmering blonde
large green eyes
--------intent on spoon
mouth formed in a proud smile
--------the smile that a three-year-old could have
----------------when I came home and you said
look daddy-----I made cookies today

Cousins

tanned arms cords of love
wrapped around your bodies
standing barefoot on dock

this was goodbye
after years of
growing-------up

on docks
at tables
in beds

dancing
laughing
singing

I see you
sitting in a pink inflatable
rope attached to boat
Karin at the back holding handle
Sarah at the front looking back at us
wide smile
pig tails
one foot extended
--------toenails red ready
for the ride

we look on
tears create clouds

you keep holding on as the future takes hold

Sister

glasses flash in the sunlight
she writes the crossword or
arranges scrabble pieces
------totally engaged
------------bringing all into fold
this is the
most
------important
----------------thing
---------------------right
--------------------------now
me
the little brother
standing in the shadow

voice
rising in excitement
hands gesturing the relevance of the moment
the sun’s glint
shines on us all

Cottage Poem #7 (Cassie)

on edge ready to leap
legs splayed tan curls splash laughter
eagerness thrills soul

Cottage Poem #6 (Sauna)

salty drops release
splashing pine boards

hazy hissing water
hits heated rocks

vapour rises surrounding skin
glistening glowing

I look down-----contemplating heat
emanating small stove
fire fierce through small window creating
a tiny solar system
of burning breath and
icy splash
no
in
between

Cottage Poem #5 (Poker)

the flip and flutter
shuffled
dealt
picked up
passed

the ting and clatter
stacked
pushed
thrown
gathered

the startle and murmer
stated
sung
shouted
laughed

the flicker and roar
determined
suspended
relieved
shattered…re-lit

Cottage Poem #4 (Waterskiing)

we skim the surface
knees flexed
eyes down
wind whipping hair
waves---------foam
flying by

holding on tightly
crossing wake------wary

alive

alert

fatigue enters body
muscles tremble

we try to get back home
before
having to let go

Cottage Poem #3 (Renewal)

cold wet darkness envelopes skin
millions of tiny algae
cloud clearness
sun slanting warms my head

I thrust up and curl
body slices down
touching bottom
fingers scratch sand

rising again
feeling water warm towards surface
face finds dripping air

back body float
freely refreshed

Cottage Poem #2 (Morning Sun)

reflection off dark water
squints my blazing face

looking out across shimmering ripples
radiating heat heals cool of nighttime

I raise my hand to block brightness

Cottage Poem #1 (Evening Stillpoint)

rippling lake lapping shore
dock juts water
voices echo family

my head falls back
seeing top of tall pine
a double tip
--------green fingers pointing
up into
pale blue and white wisps

as dusk deepens
into dark stillness

Setback

climbing to top of ladder
--------leaning against eaves trough

putting paint can and old blanket onto the garage roof

ladder begins to slip
--------scraping sideways

grabbing rungs
--------sliding down

hitting ground on feet
--------right foot rolled over

there was a scream

sitting on porch
--------pain like a million tiny hammers

hammering back the bent ladder
--------climbing back up to finish job