Best Calgary Poems
Eve T.M.M. is a sweet Canadian gal
A product of the wild wild west
Living between Edmonton and Calgary
Imagine as a cowgirl she's dressed
Riding frisky stallions and lassooing steers
Roundup time on Circle M Ranch
With the majestic Rockies off in the distant
A loud Yippy-Ki-O she does chant
Now my friends, I could be totally off base
Eve may just be a simple city girl
Perhaps just a sweet down to earth real lady
Sending rancher's heads in a whirl
Well I'd like to think she's a sophisticated lady
With servants at her beck and call
Wearing a diamond studded evening gown
Dancing the night away at the ball
Eve T.M.M. is a sweet Canadian gal
A product of the wild wild west
© Jack Ellison 2015
To My Brother on His Birthday
You’ve been to me a brother and a friend
A great support and comfort through the years
The sadness of my life with joy you blend
And when I cry, you help to wipe the tears
To childlike eyes you were the hero great
I stood amazed at strength and boyish skill
As King and Queen we played to challenge fate
Our little games, a source of wondrous thrill
You made me want to be the very best
To rise above the challenges of life
The bar you raised and helped me pass the test
And made me thrive despite the inner strife
Much more than brother, dear, you are to me
You are a source of strength and constancy
Eileen Manassian
June 18, 2015
8:11 am
My brother, Armond, is four years older than I am. It's his birthday today, and I wrote a little sonnet in his honor. He wrote a lovely poem for me on my fortieth, which is framed and hanging on my wall. I can't describe the source of inspiration that Armond is to me. He is an intellectual giant. He has his doctorate in Accounting from the University of Calgary. He is a fantastic teacher. Everything he sets his mind on doing, he can do. I've lived in his shadow in more ways than one! ;) He plays the piano better than I do...when he joined my French class, he outdid me. He's just amazing. Recently, he attended my MA thesis defense and just knowing he was there gave me courage. :) He has always been there to help me with my struggles, and I'm truly blessed to have him in my life. :)
Ocean Falls, B.C. has on average
Over 300 days of rain a year
Surely not somewhere I'd want to live
Many attempt suicide I hear
Canadians have a funny habit of
Ending each sentence with an “eh”
Couldn't be a bank robber in the U.S.A.
The “eh” would be a dead giveaway
Average number of folks in our households
Is roughly 2.6, give or take
Would sure like to meet that .6 person
An interesting image that'd make
Millions attend our Calgary Stampede
But we're really not a bunch of yahoos
We're a very computer literate country
Emails we send quite a slew
A unique Canadian one dollar coin
Was introduced back in 1987
It's affectionally known as a loonie
But it doesn't describe us, thank heaven
Even dog food here is tax-deductible
Expecting big lineups at immigration
Reason to migrate to this wonderful land
We welcome folks from ever nation
© Jack Ellison 2103
The Tree
The Bells
The Blazing Guns
Seemed like fate never saw kind, on that drifter called Stone.
Riding the dusty trail, over the Rockies, alone.
With winter behind him, on that warm, spring day.
He was planning for Calgary, by the mid-month of May.
Winter was hard for him, fending off the bitter cold.
Was many a nights, the devil had wanted his soul sold.
But despite those hard months, he had managed to stave.
Enough strength to keep both feet, out of his own, self-dug grave.
When the folk of the town had found their loot gone.
Was then when Stone just happened, to come rambling on.
The truth of the matter, was not plain to see.
Because when Stone rode to town, it was all contrary.
With the real culprit gone, so no one else to answer for thieving.
Left Stone all alone with nowhere to run leaving.
Stone heard the bells of the small town church sound.
With guns blazing, the town folk shot the thief they had done found.
And because they were all, as mad as can be.
They hung poor old Stone, from an old hanging tree.
SHM
Form:
Let’s go skiing ! Said my wife
It gives you such a thrill
So off we flew to Canada
To face the bitter chill
We took a bus from Calgary
To Banff’s National park
Found our hotel, went to bed
To get up with the lark
I brought a bright red jacket
My mate Stuart let me borrow
I thought at least I’ll look the part
When I hit the slopes tomorrow….
In the bright blue morning
I went to hire some skis
And boots that felt like concrete
I could hardly bend my knees
The minibus dropped us off
By a mud stained snowy drift
My wife said “ I’ll get the passes”
Just go meet me by the lift “
A group of red faced skiers
Were gathering in a throng
To sit on a revolving seat
That didn’t stop to let you on.
“I cannot get on that” I said
As I stared in disbelief
With slats of wood upon my feet
I knew I’d come to grief
“Come on Mike” my dear wife said,
You’ll be fine once you get on
So I stood as was directed
Then “whoosh” and I was gone
Hands gripped round the safety bar
As we rocked on metal ropes
Thinking “how will I get off this thing
When we reach the nursery slopes ? “
The chair in front began to slow
I heard their bar go “clunk”
They deftly skied away with ease
While I prepared to flunk
I ejected from my seat
To a ramp of icy snow
I soon was sliding on my back
With both legs akimbo.
Sailing down the green runs
My instructor in a strop
Kept telling me to slow down
But I didn’t know how to stop
I saw some awesome sights
I learnt the “pizza” wedge
I heard a muffled scream
When a friend slid of the edge
I lasted just three days
Till we skied toward lake Louise
I handed in my ski poles
When I couldn’t feel my knees
Time to sample “Apres Ski”
In my warm, hotel retreat
Dipping bread in fondue
Was much more up my street
While My wife “carved the powder”
Meandering with such skill,
I rubbed ointment on my kneecaps
And took a pain reducing pill.
I would not trade these memories
I will treasure them for life
I am not built to be a skier
But thank you my dear wife !
The metropolitan area consists of everything like theaters, museums, restaurants, and a lot of hotels and skyscrapers. But most of all, the cities are filled with public transportation(city buses, subways, trains, taxi cabs, and airports, e.g.) and a lot of luxurious vehicles. Whether anyone is in either New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas, Tokyo, Toronto, London, or wherever, the city is everybody’s lives. It seems that all metropolitan areas are considered awesome vacation spots, even for tourists. The metropolitan areas from the United States of America and the world each have a lot of famous landmarks, especially those of the Gateway Arch, the Empire State Building, the Golden Gate Bridge, Big Ben, etc. All downtown areas are best known for attracting would-be city folks to go to, and that’s a real fact. Well, frankly, all cities from the United States of America and beyond are harder to get away from, even in the Los Angeles area of Hollywood,California. And imagine my surprise when I found out that Downtown Ft. Worth, Texas, has a movie theater and a Barnes & Noble book store. Being from the metropolitan area has its awesome advantages, especially when he or she has been influenced by the hip-hop culture and the urban culture. Well, I guess this is just the essence of urban living. The cities also have cooler downtown apartments in the downtown areas, especially in Dallas and in Ft. Worth. Boy, if I were to visit either Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Venice, Italy, London, England, Charlotte, North Carolina, or wherever, I’d stay there for a week or tow; I’d bring back some souvenirs. I wonder if the cities will still be there and there’s going to be more awesome cities in the future, Well, I guess I’ll never know. We’re all very cool for a bunch of city folks. And when he or she is in the city, it's like driving on the city streets, especially when he or she is driving either a Nissan Armada, a Cadillac Escalade EXT, or one of those BMW vehicles. I’m looking forward to residing in one of the metropolitan areas either out of state or another country, if that were to happen, that would be great.
Gather ‘round younguns, there is a story to be told
About some renegade cowgirls & their ride for the gold
They made it look so easy, feathers, flowers & a smile.
Guts & grace, they had plenty, quitting wasn't their style
They snugged up their riggin' & grabbed for air
Winning Champion titles with style & flair
If Lucas, Krieg & Greenough hadn't led the way
Would any of us be here in the arena today?
Henderson, Riley, Hastings & Creed
To the "Men Only" rule they all paid no heed
They broke records & bones, faced derision & fear
Riding Broncs, Raising families, they juggled home & career
Nasty wrecks were a given but they seemed to bounce back
In one unforgettable event, Tad's girl picked up the slack
From Calgary & Cheyenne to OKC & San Antone
Though there are many others, these ladies stand alone
Hat's off to the Rodeo's Renegade Roses
At tradition they turned up their noses
Bronc busting, trick riding, a rough riding ballet
They showed us how to win & made it look like play
They were never reckless, just a bit wild & bold
Now its up to you & me to see their stories told
They left mighty big boots to fill, bless them one & all
We know that they ride with us, as we heed the siren's call
Lift a glass high in honor for those who paved the way
Three cheers for the Renegade Roses still bucking out today
The Bronc Buster’s Boogie is danced every day
From Calgary & Cheyenne to way down Arizona Way
You size up your bucking partner & set your rigging right
Then settle in for a wild dance, make sure you hold on tight
That boogie begins with a 3/4 beat, as you & that bronc start to spin
Him with a mind to send you soaring & you with a mind to win
Three bone jarring leaps & a hoof tap tango, as that bronc heads for the sky
That bronc has a lot of fire & heart & that Cowboy, a lot of try
Your eyes are focused between his ears, every muscle tensed & strained
If you have to ask why its done, there ain’t no need to explain
You pitch & sway to a rhythm & a song only heard by the bronc & you
When that buzzer sounds, with a leap of faith, you soar in to the deep wide blue
So plays out the Bronc Buster Boogie in arenas big & small
The roar of the crowd after a winning ride is the sweetest music of all
Rock music from Canada is as awesome as rock music from the United States. It's like a music festival just outside of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It seems that the Canadian rock stars have outdone themselves, especially when they're entertaining all of their American fans. Out of all Canadian rock stars, five of my favorites are Skye Sweetnam, Fefe Dobson, Alanis Morissette, Avril Lavigne, and Samuel "Sam" Roberts. What's so cool about Canadian rock music is when the drummers and the guitar players are on stage, making a lot of music and stuff. It's also as if all of us American rock music fans are attending a Fefe Dobson concert at an auditorium just outside Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Calgary, Alberta, Canada. when listening to a lot of Canadian rock music, it's like going into a real frenzy and stuff. All rock stars and rock groups from America have helped all Canadian rock stars and rock groups revolutionized the entire scene, especially when Three Days Grace have made a very impression. Why, if Canadian rock music continues to have affect on all of us American rock music fans, that would be very awesome.
The suburbs have been a part of the lives of all Americans, especially that of the awesome Caucasians. It's been affecting the lives of all U.S. citizens since the day frozen TV dinners were invented. There's a lot of suburban communities that are outside the cities: suburban communities like those of Dallas, Texas (Grapevine, Arlington, Addison, e.g.), Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (Calgary), and other suburban communities. If only these people would just appreciate the the fine essence of fine suburban living, especially when he or she's finally away from the hassle of the city. It's makes everybody happy just thinking about the suburbs. But these people will have been easily bored with nothing to do, even though they're trying to do something fun. But despite the boredom and whatnot, there's a lot of places all families can do: things like going fishing, going to the park, everything. There's also a bunch of malls that everybody can go to, especially that of the Parks Mall in Arlington, Grapevine Mills Mall in Grapevine, and other malls in the suburban communities. I love suburban living. And if everybody were to move to the suburbs to begin a peaceful life, that would be very awesome.
A Canadian Love Song
Like JFK with Edgar Hoover,
I'm completely ill at ease:
it's as if I'm in Vancouver,
but I speak no Cantonese.
A Mountie's boot must have its stirrup,
they say Brooke Nevin needs a fattener:
tooth decay loves maple syrup
(look what it did for William Shatner!)
I yearn for something quite profound,
my very own deep inner need,
just as Puget boasts its Sound
and Calgary its Stampede.
Like "foo" means nothing without "fighter",
an ice rink's bare without a puck.
Mike Myers lacks a decent writer:
I think I need a cute canuck.
I hope one day I will be ready
(when Justin Bieber gets a life!)
- Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy -
to woo you as my Winnipeg Wife.
Up there in the "Great White North"
All people across the land come forth
It's time to celebrate our nation's holiday
Known upon this day as "Canada Day"
Gather all your families, relatives, and friends
Join along with the rest of your fellow Canadians
Spanning all across the land's riches and beauties
Through its majestic and breathtaking places
From the nation's capital of Ottawa
To the diverse city of Toronto
Over the country lifestyles of Calgary
And the traditional French side of Montreal
Disciplined Royal Canadian Mounties and Armed Forces
Well-remembered Canadian Historical Legends
All of them along with you... who are proud to be Canadian
Beautiful floral gardens and splendid mixed forests
Enjoyable winter sports and popular hockey games
How one celebrate this historical holiday?
Only your true heart can determine this
Beginning the day with picnics and beaches
And by finishing with a night of spectacular fireworks
Show your precious colours of the Red and White
The Maple Leaf - one shall always honour
Singing with all our hearts as the flag waves up high
"O' Canada" - our anthem from our glowing hearts
Skye Sweetnam is one of the best female rock stars the world has ever seen. She's from the
suburb of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Her music is so amazing, it's like I'm at a mini rock
concert outside of New York City. It's also as if there's an alternative rock fest just
outside Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Not only is Skye Sweetnam very beautiful, I find her
very attractive, she's awesome, and she's cute, too. I love the way she plays the guitar
and the way she sings. The day Skye became a a rock star was the day she had wowed all of
us American rock music fans. Her latest music video, "Tangled Up In Me," was the best
music video I've ever seen, even on MTV. Skye Sweetnam is also known for her punk-rock
outfits and her multicolored hair. Not to mention her appearance on the Canadian version
of "American Idol."She was born in 1988, the same year I was born in. She's just like
other female rock stars from Canada: Fefe Dobson and Avril Lavigne. And if fate were to
bring me and Skye together and we fall in love with each other in less than a minute, then
everything will be alright. I hope she makes it into the rock and roll hall of fame in the
near future.
I saw you last night
in a crooked, distorted building
you were trying again for love within some new walls
in an apartment arranged for two
in a city designed by exhaustion
you had her laughing again
as she often used to early on
I followed your movement like a ghost
from room to room
and watched as the two of you entered
into a kitchen where you started to cook dinner
and talk of a new future together
I had not seen you for nearly twenty years
my memory added no age to your face
and your clothing had long since gone out of style
Campbellford, California, Calgary and God knows where
you had been chasing life
forever nipping at the heels of your perceived fulfillment
losing people all along the way
I was getting lost in the thought of it all
then the door slammed
and she was gone too
like always, like all the others
in the shrinking kitchen you stood alone and puzzled
your eyes dropped and searched the floor for answers
I felt myself begin to care and turned away
I slipped into an empty room and gazed out the window
where street lamps poured their light
through a steady snow that fell like television static
and landed on highways twisting like mating snakes
to create a hypnotizing mess with no ends
I began to feel a hollow smile curl onto my lips
then the door slammed
and you were gone too
I turned and said to no one at all
thank you for my life
and thank you for leaving when you did
Elsa was a tall lovely Swede
Cross-eyed and knock-kneed
Million-dollar smile all agreed
Flashing her favorite dress made of tweed
A chain at her neck with a simple bead
Loving kindness was her creed
Drenched in thoughtfulness her every deed
The biggest heart kind to any breed
Elsa couldn’t stand to see any creature bleed
Cautious steps not to crush spider or centipede
When Elsa’s turn was up for vacation, no need to plead
She chose her dream destination easily indeed
All wished Elsa a heartfelt Godspeed
And off went Elsa to visit the Calgary stampede
She was impressed with how it was refereed
And how the bulls got their revenge with speed
As it was humans who most needed to heed
Elsa would be back it was guaranteed
AP: Honorable Mention 2020
Posted on March 17, 2018