Snow Sparkles

A Victoria, B.C. photo from
November 2017

Pristine snow sparkling 

in the sun puts the lie 

to ice cold days

“Nature gives to every time and season 

some beauties of its own.”

~ Charles Dickens

Rent Free?

Should I be anxious? 

Should I be scared? 

Should I be angry?

Should I let someone 

or something live 

rent free in my head? 

It’s hard not to when 

all swirls doom-like  

around the world as 

the wild unruly wind today. 

By the way, it was 

34 kilometres per hour

Today changed for me

only in what I wore and 

how long I walked in the 

wind. The wind still blows 

whether by man or nature. 

Rent free? I think not.

“Don’t give in to your fears. If you do, 

you won’t be able to talk to your heart.”

~ Paul Coelho, The Alchemist

Out of the Cold

Rolls of summer rest quietly, 

A shelter out of the cold 

for wee beasties of the field.

“If one’s life is simple, contentment has to come.”

~ Dalai Lama

Presence

Which was it? Snow flakes drifting past my nose in cold afternoon air? Or the cozy warmth of a coffee shop, 

women’s laughter and conversation swirling over the length of the table? Was it the careful stride to my walk 

to the bus stop over icy asphalt 

powdered with snow? Each has strength in the moment. Finding joy in the present is a choice.

“Wherever you are, be there totally.”

~ Eckhart Tolle

Force of Nature

The wind blew 

through the day

Fingers scrabbled through winter branches, across frosted roof tops and dipped down to force puny humans to bend to its icy hand. 

Sun’s rays 

shredded by cloud, 

ignored by the wind,

could not thaw a frozen world.

Still the wind blew 

through the night.

“The wind shows us how close to the edge we are.”

~ Joan Dideon

Beside Me

It seems a long time 

that my body sat still. 

To let my soul rest within

while my body healed. 

A soul does not need 

to take time for it is 

the centre of time. 

Always present, ready to 

resume our trip through 

winter’s ice and snow or 

spring green, summer’s 

fullness or autumn’s gold.

“Let your soul stand cool and composed before a million universes.”

~ Walt Whitman

Book Review: Adeline's DREAM by Linda Aksomitis

Adeline Mueller, big sister to her 5 year old brother, Konrad, only ever wanted to sing like her Tante Karoline in Berlin. Now, she didn’t know if she ever would. Her mother, Konrad and Adeline had come to this new land to be with their Papa. After a three week long ocean voyage, going through customs and then a long train trip to this new strange town, 12 year old Adeline was tired and disappointed. This empty new land and sky a was completely different from her beautiful Germany. That wasn’t all. She didn’t recognize her Papa, who had been a banker in Germany, but now worked hard in a mill. He had promised her a house, but they would live in what was called a ‘soddie’. She made friends, went to school, learned English, survived a tornado, lived through a winter, and picked saskatoon berries. She does get an opportunity to sing on stage - but that’s towards the end of the story.

Told in the voice of young Adeline, the family lives the life of the pioneers in the early 1900’s. Part of a German settlement of families living in whitewashed sod houses in Qu'Apelle, they were labeled squatters, and were not always favoured. Linda Aksomitis has penned a lovely story of historical fiction set here on the Saskatchewan prairie in the pioneer town of Qu’Appelle. The author includes an Afterword for historical details.

"Today she could see the wonders of the prairie, 

so maybe if she tried harder she would like it here."

~ Linda Aksomitis, Adeline's Dream

Title: Adeline’s DREAM

Author: Linda Aksomitis

Copyright: 2005: 

Publisher: Coteau Books

Format: Novel (for young readers)

Series: From Many Peoples

Type: Paperback

ISBN: 1-55050-323-5