Keep On Runnin'

When a cog in well oiled machine breaks off,

wheels and pulleys slow up their turning,

stopping and lurching forward,

with hiss or burn or screech ~

and could stop turning at all.

There is security in steady forward motion, assuring of accomplishing many, many tasks.

Confidence that all will resume smoothly

comes when there is a short pause ~

long enough to call out for help.

Repairing a damaged machine

takes commitment and courage and spit ~

to get wheels to resume their turning

and forward motion to start up again ~

but momentum will build once more.

Computer programs are not really machines

Nor are the people who use them each day.

One tiny wee glitch in the either, unseen by anyone’s eye, 

caused today’s ‘machine’ to slow down.

I.T. folks did fix it promptly so forward movement picked up some speed.

“The design of each element should be thought out 

in order to be easy to make and easy to repair.”
~ Leo Fender

Cultural Dissonance

It’s been hot today, the heat not the heat of the prairies or deserts, but heat that Victoria is not used to this early in the year. I’ve walked in the park tonight and watched families with little children picnicing, playing in playgrounds and in general, having a lovely, peaceful evening.

Between coming from work and going for my walk, I listened to the radio. To hear what’s going on in the world. Outside of here, outside this city, outside of this country there is crime, murder, death and destruction. Sadly, I am aware that much of the same occurs within this city and country as well. The weather is painted as only one of the culprits. Most really are human against human, brutally, senselessly and far too often.

The rose garden in the park has protections against deer and other wildlife that would enjoy the lovely buffet planted for beauty and enjoyment - not the deer. The fence was well designed, the gates only open one way and are quite heavy. On the inside are roses in shades of reds, peach, pinks and yellow. On the outside are many other varieties of flowers. Yarrow is one - not a preferred snack for the deer - a colourful and cheerful barrier outside the decorative fencing. Farther away is the Garry oak meadow where grasses and wild flowers are left to grow  - tastier and safer for the deer.

Could we, as a population, design our protections, our securities with kindness and as much care as we do our flower and vegetable gardens? An interesting thought.

“The reason why the world lacks unity, and lies broken 

and in heaps, is, because man is disunited with himself.”

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Food Security

Being resourceful and creative
Is it’s own security ~
Tasty and delicious!

“The art of being happy lies in the power of 

extracting happiness from common things.”

~ Henry Ward Beecher

Like the Turtle

Like the turtle
We carry our houses on our backs ~
houses of time and experience
shaped within our homes and hearts.

Like the turtle
We move slowly through this world,
stepping only one minute at a time ~
thinking we should move faster.

Like the turtle
We wish to be secure within ourselves,
knowing that to walk in the world should be safe ~
thinking that it is not.

Like the turtle
We can be secure within ourselves,
becoming aware of how to find our own security ~
knowing that safety can be found.

“Take a walk with a turtle. 

And behold the world in pause.”

~ Bruce Feller

Off the Beaten Path

Off the beaten path
  After walking on cement sidewalks
  Strolling on cedar mulch paths
  Crossing asphalt paved streets 
  Errands and missions done this summer day.

Off the beaten path
I wanted to walk through unmown grasses
  Under trees untrimmed or shaped
  Expectation only of stepping outside of the box
  Being part of the natural world

Off the beaten path
Books were the farthest thing from my mind
  Books of poetry and essay written from hearts that have seen too much
  Water wrinkled, dusty, alone deep in the Garry Oak meadow
  Painful pasts full of trauma and addiction transformed with words

Off the beaten path
In the tall golden grass of summer
A small book was abandoned, left behind and forgotten,
   waiting for someone to find it and value it’s deep meaning,
      give the moisture wrinkled book a home out of dust and weather.

“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.”

~ Anaï Nin

MegaphoneMagazine.com

Megaphone (Voices of the Street), published monthly, is a magazine sold on the streets of Vancouver and Victoria by homeless and low-income vendors. Megaphone is published monthly by the not-for-profit Street Corner Media Foundation in Victoria, B.C. 

Megaphone’s mission statement is:  “Megaphone’s goal is to provide a voice and an economic opportunity for homeless and low-income people while building grassroots support to end poverty.” 

Echoes ~ 1

The arms of my ancestors
reach down 
wrap around
hold me securely
in the softness of their embrace
always with me through each step in my life

The arms of my ancestors
only let go 
if I push them away
with fear or anger or disbelief
always staying close 
should I reach out for their touch

The arms of my ancestors
understand what could not be understood
if I hold them closely
shawls, fine or coarse, drape on my shoulders
echoes of voices from the distance
reminders of lineage, lessons and family love.

“Words never fade away but echo on for eternity. Let your echo ring.”

~ Richelle E. Goodrich

Summer Sunday Decisions

Which celebration to honour on this marvelous Sunday?

Fathers Day
   International Aboliginal Day
      Summer Solstice - The Longest Day of the Year
         Victoria International JazzFest
     International Yoga Day
        Car Free Day, Victoria BC

So I went downtown 
Through Beacon Hill Park - past a baseball game in progress
Down and up Douglas Street - closed to traffic

• absolutely thronged by families, children and dogs
• aromas reminiscent of a midway wrapping around us all
• music on stages strategically placed at intersections and at Centennial Square

A Side trip past the Inner Harbour following the drumming

• dancers in heavy (so hot!) costume stepping and slow spinning
• drummers and singers intoning the dance.
• Aroma of fry bread missing! - I was too late!

Time to go home
        But…..stop at the Museum to listen and watch more drumming and dancing ~ complements of the Aboriginal Cultural Festival ~ always a toddler in each crowd dancing to whatever beat or music played

Back through Beacon Hill Park where children ran, laughed and played
Parents visited and relaxed, slyly watching their kiddos
Heron fledglings raucously called to their parents for more food.

Did I see any security in the form of police?
Yes - ensuring safety at certain intersections or once taking a break from watching the crowds.
I really never had to make a decision about which day to celebrate……

“We take thousands of decisions in life; the very best ones 

are often the ones taken boldly and unhesitatingly!”

~ Mehmet Murat Ildan