Poetry Friday

Vancouver Island

Violet Nesdoly

Today (July 1st) is Canada Day! A Happy 149th Birthday to Canada, the country I love. As you can imagine, the birthday celebrations this year will be eclipsed by celebrations next year when Canada turns 150. (Our poetry society is planning to publish a book of poetry to commemorate the event. Our members are busy writing about Canada. That bit of writing is also on my to-do list.)

Today, a poem about one of my favorite places in Canada to visit. Though it’s just a 90-minute ferry ride away, Vancouver Island is a special place full of memories of the wonderful times we’ve spent there. The accompanying slide show lets you see just a few of its features. Of course the best part of any place we visit is the friends we have there.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Vancouver Island

Ninety-minute crossing meanders between Gulf Islands
from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay
slows us down to island speed

Drive roadways lined with rocky outcrops and arbutus trees
that shed their trunks in curling rusty flakes

Shiver in bone-cold Port Hardy fog
Breathe air that feels thick as a milkshake.

Watch whales breach, sea lions sunbathe
on a brilliant Telegraph Cove morning

Spend a day wandering Chemainus
camera in hand gathering murals

Gawk at Buddha statues and goats
on the roof of the Coombs market

Stroll past Victoria’s Parliament Buildings outlined in lights
to the skirl of the bagpipes of buskers

Talk with my friend till late
Wood fire embers snap a sleepy goodnight
as I head to the guest room

© 2016 by Violet Nesdoly (All rights reserved)

*********

PF-2This post is linked to Poetry Friday, hosted today by Tabatha Yeatts at The Opposite of Indifference.

Published by Violet Nesdoly

16 thoughts on “Vancouver Island”

    1. Thank you, Carol-Ann. I’m curious… how did you celebrate the day? (We went to the festivities at Fort Langley – which is the actual birthplace and first capital of B.C.)

      Like

      Reply

  2. I was on holiday in Canada during Canada Day once and had a ball. Sounds like I should be making plans to come next year! “Air that feels thick as a milkshake” — nice positive spin, Violet! I will try to remember “milkshake” the next time I’m in weather like that.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. Happy Canada Day, Violet. The coming book of poetry to commemorate Canada is a lovely goal. I’ve been to Vancouver Island once long ago, and still remember the guest house, a new thing for me as a teen. It is beautiful there and you are lucky to be able to travel there so often.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Heidi! I’m sure we’ll be having some wonderful Canada parties in 2017! Would love it if you celebrated with us. It’s interesting that your daughter is choosing McGill.

      Like

      Reply

  8. Hope you’ve enjoyed a celebratory weekend, Violet! Your corner of the world looks so gorgeous – I’ve just seen pictures, and yours here are beautiful. Checking off all the things in your poem would definitely make for a satisfying adventure.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  10. Happy (belated) Canada Day, Violet! I just got back (last week) from my first ever trip to Canada! My husband and I spent our 27th Anniversary in Victoria, BC – glorious! As is your poem – “Victoria’s Parliament Buildings outlined in lights” – we saw these from our condo! =)

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.