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Open Poetry #41
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BBGrrl
Member
since 2007-07-17
Posts 181
BC, Canada

0 posted 2007-07-30 07:07 PM


Canadian waters raise fluid souls.
At first I sailed fierce Superior, crown jewel of the Great Waters -
Countless streams, and rivers and lakes.
Pre-teen, I came to shining, laughing Pacific
And fell in love.

Our twenty-foot trusty craft
Proclaimed “Bifrost” on the bow.
Sturdy, sailed true, for weeks at a time
To the bays marking the gathering
Of our weekend compadrés, loving with the water.

Some were wedded to the water
Old Man MacKenzie, and his fantastic houseboat
The years with his worship festooned his floating cave
Like a pirate’s den. On the dock he would wait
For the children of the water.

Strong, tanned, bursting with life
Clattering up and down the docks,
Catching MacKenzie in the corner of our eyes.
With his, twinkling of stars on sea foam he beckoned
The curious, the innocent would answer.

Dim inside, stuffed with shells, knacks and brass bells
Steam would rise from the potbellied stove
From the kettle, with its welcoming scream.
Wide eyed, we would settle on the ragged rug at his feet
One picked special, honored to serve tea.

And then the story, “please Mr. Mack!”
Fairies, Giants, talking bears
Tales of Indians and voyaguers
Tragic Edmund, Titanic’s brave quartet
And especially Sam Magee.

Rolling, yarning, soft gravelly burr - musical
His voice rose and fell like the waves of his life’s love.
Spellbound, hypnotized, delighted and amazed
Cookie crumbs falling unnoticed
For Adso, shy familiar and companion.

Then off we would go, touched by magic
Back out to the light, the sun and the sea.
Back to our boats and families.
The salt was sharper, the gulls cried harder
Bracing spray tasted sweeter, more precious.

Five years I visited MacKenzie
Gifts of raisin pie by my own hand
Gravely accepted, young lady to a gentleman.
For that magical time, in the den of imagination
Borne on Canadian water, friendship was free.


© Copyright 2007 BBGrrl - All Rights Reserved
Bronzeage
Member
since 2007-07-20
Posts 197

1 posted 2007-07-30 11:14 PM


Wonderful piece, Babe. I love the clarity of your images.
ThisDiamond
Member Rara Avis
since 2002-02-22
Posts 9353
Michigan, USA
2 posted 2007-07-30 11:50 PM


Wonderful imagery.
Nicely done

secondhanddreampoet
Member Ascendant
since 2006-11-07
Posts 6394
a 'Universalist' !
3 posted 2007-07-31 12:19 PM


most fine ‘write’ [wonderful ‘read’]!...

I’ve never managed to successfully ‘do’
“Realism” writes [I grandly admire those
  who can!]

I am particularly fond of:

“Canadian waters raise fluid souls(!)”;

“…stuffed with shells, knacks and brass bells”;

“His voice rose and fell like the waves of his life’s love”;

AND:

“Back out to the light, the sun and the sea.
Back to our boats and families.
The salt was sharper, the gulls cried harder
Bracing spray tasted sweeter, more precious.”

and what a grand-fine ending line!:

“Borne on Canadian water, friendship was free”

strikes a major ‘nostalgic chord’ for me…
[resonates with some of my experiences with
  the U.S. and Canadian ‘geologic surveys’
   in my ‘early days’ as a geologist; etc.]

serious, long-sustained applause!!



BBGrrl
Member
since 2007-07-17
Posts 181
BC, Canada
4 posted 2007-07-31 12:24 PM


Bronze. *smile*

Thank you, Diamond.

SHP - what a delight to see your construct, especially in such generous praise of my poem.  Thank you much!

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