In my post yesterday I wrote about DELIGHT. Today a poem about one of the places I love which gives me great delight—Elgin Park in South Surrey. Over the years we’ve walked the paths dozens of times and in every season. I always find something wonderful here!
Elgin Park
The forest path lures me
into a wood lush as a Rousseau painting
with wild Bleeding Heart
pink heads drooping like jilted lovers
and Salmonberry blossoms
petal-lamps of rose-stained glass
lighting the way
through tangled shrubs
In this wood I have seen
cityscapes of mushrooms
built on bluffs of log stumps
sturdy Dame’s Rocket, chaste Trillium
levitating Cranesbill and flowers so dainty
they could scarcely bear a name.
Today ferns everywhere
are growing nests of fiddles.
In the open I pass the gravel patch
where once Killdeers
in natty turtlenecks
played a game of flirt and fetch-me.
This day Lupins hold umbrella leaves
against an April sprinkle
biding the day their purple spires
spike the flat contour of meadow.
The stand of adolescent Poplars
are still in conversation
their slim, lithe trunks retain
the lilt of teenage limbs
graceful and self-conscious.
At the tide-temperamental Nicomekl
Heron stands his lonely guard
over exposed bottom of craggy oysters.
He hates for me to watch him
takes indolently to the air
croaking complaint.
A Loon has jumped my dollar coin
is diving near the boathouse by the pier.
Further along the Greenwinged Teals
play front-end loader
in the mud.
© 2008 by Violet Nesdoly (All rights reserved)
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This post is linked to Poetry Friday, hosted today by Donna at Mainely Write.
Violet Nesdoly 
On this rainy morning your beautiful poem, photos and love for God’s good creation stir me as I sit at my desk writing — yes, about creation. He who sustains these good creatures, also sustains me. (and if it stops raining I will go this weekend to Elgin park — maybe even in it doesn’t stop raining!)
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Thank you, Laurel! I have walked there in the rain too, but it’s definitely more pleasant under the sun.
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Once again, your poem leaves me shaking my head in an admiring way, incredulous–not only by the natural beauty that you succinctly photograph and generously share, but by the brilliance of your poetry; that you hold your own among all the best who ever shared their poetic vision. I am in awe of how very blessed you are and how very blessed we are in immersing ourselves in your photographic and poetic presentations of things seen and unseen–of how you connect dots that gives a full picture. How do you know so much? How do you see so much? How do you name so much? I am speechless. All I can say: Thanks, and God bless you!
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Dear CB, you are way too kind, but I do appreciate your more than generous take on this. As for seeing and naming, it’s love, I guess and investigation. The family I come from has a streak of observing and appreciating nature. We grew up in the country and all of us own field guides and study birds and plants. A little of this penchant is in the blood, I guess, and the rest is study and research because one wants to know 🙂
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Your nature/natural insights and knowledge are super-amazing. From what you kindly shared, your penchant and deliberate learning are witness to the nature and nurture theories of who we are and what we do. So many times, I’ve wondered if someone with the innate talent to be an outstanding pianist, for example, grew up without the opportunity to play an instrument, if that person ever would know or live up to that extraordinary potential. I’m glad you were born in the country so that you have been able to discover, to express, and to build upon your early familial experiences. Lucky for us; more than lucky for you. Imagine if you hadn’t had that penchant or worked to express it–how much poorer we all would be. Thank you again for sharing your magnificent gifts and talents! God bless you. (p.s. I can’t help wondering if each one of us will be surprised “some day” to learn about gifts and talents we had that went unknown and undeveloped.)
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I envy you this wonder of a place, Violet, enjoyed the photos very much, and “cityscapes of mushrooms/built on bluffs of log stumps.” Some of that I’ve seen in our Rockies, but not those “Greenwinged teals playing front-end loader in the mud”. Thanks for sharing your delightful place.
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What lovely images — your poem took me to that magical place. Thanks for the nice slide show too!
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Thanks for the walk through Elgin Park. Beautiful images in words.
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I love the things you name and the ones you don’t, especially, “flowers so dainty/ they could scarcely bear a name.” Most unfolded in my mind, having seen local versions of herons and trillium as well as lupin, poplars and mushrooms (and rotten logs). But I love envisioning a Killdeer, which I’m seeing as a footballer, but is more probably a bird. You make Elgin Park a paradise and my mood a much improved thing. Thanks!
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Violet, you have woven a tapestry of color with your words, coupled with the images you show. It is sensory delight for our eyes. The opening stanza lures me into the beauty of your Elgin Park while the comparison of the ancient poplars to teenagers is wonderful. I could go back in and analyze each thought that folds so magically into one another but for now I will just soak in the power of poetry.
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Some of my favorite lines: “petal-lamps of rose-stained glass
lighting the way
through tangled shrubs”
and “flowers so dainty
they could scarcely bear a name.
Today ferns everywhere
are growing nests of fiddles.”
Your wonder and appreciation for the natural world shine through!
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Elgin Park sounds and looks wonderful, Violet. I love the description of the “stand of adolescent Poplars” – “the lilt of teenage limbs / graceful and self-conscious” – fabulous! =)
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Wonderful lines – and I’m especially fond of
“the Greenwinged Teals
play front-end loader
in the mud.”
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A beautiful poem. Your love for this place shines through.
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