Action Figures

Action figures prominently

in any form of recovery

Longings for health ~

dormant and at rest

    ~ dreaming

         ~ waiting

Self-doubt

A wavy mirage of

     ~ holographic blocks

         ~ ghostly walls

            

Action figures prominently

     ~  without flowing capes 

        ~ without super powers

Self Worth

Grows slowly from a

      ~ solid belief in goodness

          ~ place of stillness and joy

        

Action figures prominently 

in recovery when there is 

      ~ courage

        ~ satisfaction

           ~ life.

“What would you do if you were courageous?”

~ Julie Connor, Dreams to Action TrailBlazer’s Guide

Tools for Rest and Relaxation

Spontaneous adventures

are the best tools for

loosening knotted nerves

feeling sunshine and wind

stretching overworked muscles

satisfying long lost longings.

“We become what we behold. We shape our tools, 

and thereafter our tools shape us.”

~ Marshall McLuhan

Settling

Satisfaction settles in 

when all worries

take to the sky.

“In order to pick something up, you’ve got to put something down.”

~ Todd Stocker

Lamplight in Two Chapters

I have just joined a Poetry group, first meeting last evening. The poem that follows is a timed exercise (15 minutes) about, or using, the word Lamplight. Tonight I've polished it up a bit including dividing it into two chapters.

        Chapter One 

Streets dark and shadowed

Clouds pinked to gold to slate

Striped and frayed between

high rising windows

Streets dark and shadowed deeper

lamplights pool relief on sidewalks

over trash cans and daffodils

spotlighting orange pylons and signs.

Streets darkened and shadowy are

satisfied that daylight errors are hidden

surprised by lamplights 

saving small bits of the day

Streets dark and shadowed more deeply

reflections of pinpointing stars

governed majestically by a moonful of lamplight

celestial monarch over the electrical grid.

Streets darkened and seen from above

become curving strips of black satin

lined with pinpoints of lamplight

sequins strewn throughout cities and towns

           Chapter Two

Lamplight prevents us from knowing  

what is outside the edge of darkness

shining on gritty grey sidewalks

showing benches mounded with a blanketed someone.

Lamplights save us from

tripping over wires and lumpy places

set down to direct us on a correct path

set down to keep us out and away.

Lamplight points our next steps

for a stroll in the perfumed night

when rain washes away the sins of the day

to find satisfaction in a job well done.

     songs gloriously sung

          dances joyfully spun

Lamplight vanishes with the rising of the sun,

the reigning monarch of each day

wakens from deep blue to grey to gilded horizons ~

A monarch who needs no lamplight.

“A lamp cannot play the role of the Sun

 and the Sun cannot play the role of a lamp.”

~ Amit Kalantri

Book Review - His Whole Life by Elizabeth Hay

Broken families in fractured countries. New York urbanity versus Ontario lake country. Quebec and Canada in the Pierre Elliot Trudeau era. Life, living and death within these many layers. The story is told in the thoughts of Jim’s mind and heart and his mother, Nan’s mind and heart. The love and open caring between these characters was hesitant and fraught with emotional pain, limited satisfaction and times of tenderness. 

I tend to read in short bursts. Some stories do not fit this mode. His Whole Life by Elizabeth Hay needs to be read in long spells if at all possible. His Whole Life, a story of Jim, his family and his growing up is thoughtful and wise. ‘What is the worst thing you’ve ever done?' - a question that Jim asked Nan on the first page of the book, runs through this novel. Different answers come up in different life situations. Discussion was, as always, lively and most interesting.

“But some feelings take a long time, they sort of grow behind 

your back. You turn around thirty years later and there they are.”

~ Elizabeth Hay, His Whole Life

Title:  His Whole Life

Author:  Elizabeth Hay

Publisher:  McLelland & Stewart,

a division of Random House of Canada Limited,

a Penguin Random House Company

Copyright Date: 2015

Format:  Hard Cover

ISBN: 978-0-7710-3859-4

ISBN (ebook):  978-0-7710-3861-7

Type:  Fiction

Questions after Vimy Ridge - April 9 - 12, 1947

Amid the war to end all wars. 

Advancing over the homes and bodies of children, women and men while territories, borders and beliefs were embattled ~

Our world still wars somewhere. 

Advancing over the homes and bodies of children, women and men while territories, borders and beliefs are embattled ~

And still there are wars. 

In World War I, injuries of body, mind and soul were horrific.

The battles bloody and forgotten. 

The wounded that came home survived. 

And survived. 

And then there was World War II

And still there are wars.

When will the world be satisfied?

Where has our world gone wrong? 

Do individuals, countries, dogmas or financial empires need to be right? 

Do each of us need to have the most? the best?

Did our grandfathers, mothers and fathers die…….

No, are we to dishonour not just their memory, 

but their pride and belief in what they did for us? 

How can we come together in peace and fairness?

What do our warriors die for in these wars in our world?

“It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished 

unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.”

~ Voltaire

Saturday Evening in Celebration

Our Canada. An evening of symphony and literature celebrating Canada’s 150th Birthday was an evening shared with friends. Alix Goolden Hall, a historic former church, was a fitting venue for this grand display of Canadian talent. The music was crashing and mellow, expansive and focussed. Between each piece authors charmed with readings from their works. It is a treat to hear brand new music, and even more satisfying that it was Canadian talent entertaining us with story, poetry, music and song. 

“I love Canada. It’s a wonderful political act of faith 

that exists atop a breathtakingly beautiful land.”

~ Yann Martel

Spring Has Sprung

Writing exercise at Writer's Ink on Friday afternoon:  Ten minutes, topic: Spring has Sprung. I fixed some of the typos but other than that no other edits.

Spring Has Sprung

Spring has sprung. Or has it. When I think of something springing, I think of the new goats at Beacon Hill Children’s farm that seem to have springs built into their every joint of their bodies. This spring has not been quite so springy. Until I think of the daffodils. The daffodils have spread their beauty across park, under trees, in bushes, lining the roads and sidewalks until they bring their own glow of spring. Complementing their joyous blooms have been the trees full of pinks and white. Great bouffants overhead that let go their pink snow to carpet the city with their gentleness. Yes it has been cool and windy, rainy and grey more often this spring that last. Or maybe it is only in my longing for calm, warm spring days that has made it seem a slow entry. Spring has sprung with flowers and bird song, new shoots and sprouts where before there was only black earth. To appreciate these wonders of nature I really don’t need to have a blue sky and sunshine. I just want them to satisfy my desire for a complete picture.

“When all is said and done, the weather and love are 

the two elements about which one can never be sure.”

~Alice Hoffman, Here on Earth