I didn't fill out any paperwork.
There was no memo, no consent form.
Just a nameless morning when the mirror refused
to acknowledge anything above my collarbone.
After that, people entered me carrying grief
in cardboard boxes. Pressed buttons
for floors that didn't exist.
A man from 4D requested the roof,
as if it were still an option.
On Thursday, a child in a yellow parka
whispered a song
I recognized from my sleep paralysis years.
It all arrived sticky and wrong
though I tried to hum along,
my cables winced.
By Sunday I was hosting more
than traffic. Something moved
inside the machinery, something
older than ballast or balance,
and it wouldn't stop licking the grease
from its own teeth.
It told me to smile more.
I jammed the doors.
hummingbird—
someone's mouth
in my throat
Dreams as vivid as the,
Pure driven snow.
Untouched,
Watching as it,
Falls perfectly and flawlessly.
A blanket of white snowflakes,
Lying on the ground motionless.
A lonely field of white,
On the frozen ground.
When in the distance,
I see a figure in a pink parka.
Standing, Looking with a slight wave.
I hear her heart as she calls to me.
My soul mourns,
As I remember the loss and pain,
That I felt so many years ago.
The regret of leaving, and
The memories that we shared.
My tears fall as I,
Remember that it's always been her.
I open the door,
To welcome my future,
To the one that got away,
As I see her walking towards me.
The snow stops falling, and the sun comes out.
in cold winter throes
city has frosted over ~
light shimmers on pristine snow
parka covered kids
toss snowballs at each other ~
living within a snow globe
9th January 2023
For Charles Messina's "Winter Sedoka" contest
Casting a glistening ray across glossy ice
Midnight sun above the frozen Arctic,
Shimmering stars adding a cosmic spice
Casting a glistening ray across glossy ice,
Two parka-clad lovers, a touch of nice,
Sharing soft, cooing love songs cathartic
Casting a glistening ray across glossy ice
Midnight sun above the frozen Arctic.
Written November 15, 2022
At a giraffe like height, with eyes in clear view, from a cold icy frosty windowsill, 3 stories high. I see a city forest full of snowy powdery pillows packed and stacked high and also patches of icicle drops. These now all drenched in a natural inked white-out made by and from winter's chest and best.
There also views of the white sheets of frozen tundra and piles of pearly, ivory, fluffy, flaky, chalky, tall mountain mounds. This causes great white high zenith peaks to greatly abound. There in the quaintest of small shy snow-bound town.
Trees are huddled and covered in pure white parka snowflake designed fleece. This creating like a blanket canvas for me the artist. Hidden in an icy little village: A living ice sculpture painting of nature's frosty experiences.
Youngsters do enjoy wintery weather games in their childhood play. Adults in this season has winter’s life priorities of plowing and snow shoveling. The town’s people chat in igloo like shops. This to have hot mint coffee with some toast and a little bit of a great boast!
A frosty winter small hometown scene: yet, a very, very, warm community feel;" and a Yule-Time dream.
If you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes
Why live in the prairies? We have our reasons
At -50 you might say we hit our limits
Few places in one day, do you see all 4 seasons
Why live in the prairies? We have our reasons
Snow in June, and t-shirt weather in December
Few places in one day, do you see all 4 seasons
You don’t have to think too far back to remember
Snow in June, and t-shirt weather in December
A 30 degree temperature swing in under a week
You don’t have to think too far back to remember
Our ability to acclimatize is really quite unique
A 30 degree temperature swing in under a week
We’re always ready for when it really drops
Our ability to acclimatize is really quite unique
Make sure to bring your parka and flip-flops
We’re always ready for when it really drops
At -50 you might say we hit our limits
Make sure to bring your parka and flip-flops
If you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes
On Snow Shovelling
A foot of snow fell by night
With no let-up in sight.
(“Brrr, it’s cold out there.”)–
A mutt rebounds past my window,
As I contemplate the morning weather,
While sipping my hot cup of coffee.
By the street-lamp’s hazy glow,
I make out my neighbour:
Clad in a scarf, tuque, and parka,
With a winter implement
Grasped in her mitten covered hands,
Bravely confronting the heart attack weather,
And tossing snow over her shoulders,
To clear the driveway from garage to curb
For the mechanical beast to enter
The unplowed street.
She stops and calls to the mutt.
(No doubt, an excuse to catch her breath.)
The dog, tail wagging, rushes to his master;
Who brushes the snow from his fur;
And I venture to guess,—an “Atta-boy!”—
As if the dog had accomplished
Some great endeavour.
But, they both seem to derive pleasure
From the brief encounter.
The Master resumes her shovelling,
And the mutt to his romping,
And I to thinking
While sipping my hot cup of coffee;—
I too will have to face the inclement weather:
Clad in a scarf, tuque, and parka,
And commit to the task of snow shovelling.
I am an enthusiastic rainbow chameleon
until I am a cumbersome ox
Wait! Hold up! Stop!
I meant I am a excited spotted lizard
mercurial and fast moving
I slide from granite rock to mica rock
slithering in wetness, shaking my rattlers
Watch out world! I am dangerous!
I find myself flying high in the azure sky
with heart and confidence of the American bald eagle
you had better not shoot me, Arkansas!
There is a ten thousand dollar fine, you know
In but minutes I fall from the peace of the clouds,
landing in refreshingly cool lake water
I swim around in here, with the joy of a golden retriever
finding some natural springs
life is an adventure, and I mean to taste it all
You cannot catch me. I’m the gingerbread man.
Warm and hot from the oven.
Sliding down the hill in a white rabbit lined parka.
I live my truth, spouting it into my art and my poems.
I remember when I found myself; I was twenty-eight.
I knew the only opinion that mattered any more was my own.
Most freeing moment of my life!
A walk through the woods on a wintry day
Making fresh tracks in the blanket of snow,
Bundled up in my parka, muffler, and gloves
Biding my time with no specific place to go,
Watching the sun shining through the trees
Through icy mists of breath fog on my glasses
Occasionally, a tree limb gives up its burden,
And I think of the hearth and fireplace blazes.
Beauty lives here among the oaks and pines
Rising above the ground all smooth and white
While lush undergrowth hidden secretly rests,
Fresh heavy snow must have fallen last night.
Wondering at the mystical silence all around
Peace here in the woods, with nary a sound.
Written December 21, 2021
Since the mind is unsteady, turbulent, obstinate and very strong,
controlling the mind is more difficult than controlling the wind."
(Bhagavad Gita 6:34)
Putting a parka on he hooded himself and walked into the beating rain
heading for the journey out he felt wild crazy and insane
life had sent him in a new direction
leaving him bereft at mid section
some higher power had him circling his fears and he missed the train?
Wind whipped his face, tears stung his cheek
he couldn't remember the last time he felt so weak
Try as he may he could not stop the shaking, had he missed the plane?
a long forgotten voice made its way home to him, like a friend
you are only thirty five years old, this does not have to be the end
so he sat on a park bench and prayed for his mind to calm
Right then and there in the water a beautiful white swan,
gliding in the most graceful way,
paddling as hard as it could without, nothing to say...
June 24, 2021
It's another fine day in the neighbourhood
Enjoy it while we have it, appreciate the good
Three cheers and olay
This extraordinary day
We'll soon freeze our bums off in a parka with hood
“Eh?” an expression in north North America
Means, “right?” or “whatdya think?” comes from the source
A Canucky thru and thru
Proud as poop, woo hoo!
Great parka EH? Bet you wish you were me, of course!
Well, it's another fine day in the neighbourhood
Enjoy it while we have it, appreciate the good
Three cheers and olay
This extraordinary day
We'll soon freeze our bums off in a parka with a hood
“Eh?” an expression in north North America
Means, “right?” or “whatdya think?” comes from the source
A Canucky thru and thru
Proud as poop, woo hoo!
Great parka EH? Bet you wish you were me, of course!
garden swing open
parka and coffee parked
bare toes in the grass
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