Month: August 2016

Algonquin 2016

DSCN1135-001RSCN1145

A year gone by,

first night alone,

dust of city falls away,

deep silence over all.

 

End day of portage and canoe,

dive naked off a perfect rock,

flight to the surface in delight,

a child reborn.

 

Late day, warm sun settles over all,

and still of eve,

beauty of the world before man,

peace grows inside of me.

 

evening of the third day,

mind drifts in endless time,

memories weave with present here,

sans care and sans desire.

 

School of small fish,

chasing in the morning sun,

family of loons calling,

skittering over water in happy flight.

 

Small perfect raspberries,

in little patches along the path,

a few blueberries,

so few, so sweet.

 

The calm quiet of early morn,

lake mirrors shore back at me,

solitary loon floats softly by,

and nods hello to day.

 

Beaver lodges dot the shore,

moose flapping her ears

mist off the water at morn,

and over all, the bugs.

 

Sidelong glimpse of death’s hyena,

following on my trail,

not now, my friend,

my day’s still long.

 

Kindly soul left a joint here,

so up I go,

majestic day on Lake La Muir

full sun and southwest view,

 

Small fish nibble at my feet,

in sunlit shallow,

gaze over kingdom where I stand,

this is how the world began.

 

Second last day here,

feeling sweet and tired,

my wild harvest rich this year,

ready to return to daily home.

 

Lie naked on the forest floor

look up at blue through trees of green,

summer breeze wash over me,

no thought but this, it is good.

 

The miracle of nature in these lands,

grasses, trees, and living things,

sprung to glorious life in summer,

to die each winter ‘til spring returns.

W. Milne

August 2016

 

Medic Arts

Medical Arts Building

Medic Arts

Medic Arts at Bloor, St. George
art deco, world  gone by
‘septic smells, long halls, closed doors
let’s give this one more try.

Day of our, first meeting comes
sit ‘cross a table so
a few remarks to get us going
and words begin to flow.

Listens first with quiet intent
then slowly, eyelids close
my words fall off, what have I done
not how this s’posed to go.

To my relief, comes back to life
and turns again to me
an engineer, you’ll understand
you’re running rough, you see.

Okay, I say, let’s try the meds
let’s see where this thing goes
been on a couch for ten years now
what have I got to lose.

You’d think it would be easy now
but that’s not how it is
to find the sweet-spot drug and dose
takes months of hit and miss.

A year goes by, doing better now
new calm within my head
a feel of peace spread over me
anxiety mostly shed.

The feeling grows, I’m cured at last
it’s time to pull the pin
but doc he stops me, not so fast
now the real work begins.

Your engine running smoother now
your windscreen been wiped clean
you’re gonna’ have to learn to drive
this fancy new machine.

So, what’s  the real work, you ask
this journey never ends
to see the world outside more clear
and trust the world within.

Yuh gotta try grow up again
be child one more time
put down your armour and your mask

let you and world re-rhyme.

So what’cha gotta have for this?
this gonna be real hard
someone to care and feel for you
with science and with art.

Who sees you just the way you are
in good times and in pain
the slips, the falls, the sliding back
and help you up again.

This time round is different though
you ain’t just simply child
still gotta live in adult world
keep going all the while.

Another thing is happening too
if things is going your way
you join as travellers on the road
dark night and bright of day.

And, course the journey not all hard
there’s laughs and humor too
you share your stories from the past
and those that rise anew.

The doggies with us, early morn
they greet me at the door
with wagging tails and shinebright eyes
then settle down to snore.

The years go by, week at a time
an inner peace keeps growing
the fear this all be tak’n away
gives way to life affirming.

At home with loved ones, on the street
there’s good things happening too
new ways to feel and care and love
give back what’s come to you.

This journey gonna end some day
we both be getting on
but I’ve been blessed to overflow
to have you for so long.

W. Milne
Dec 2016