Curling In the hack and grip your rock crouch and graceful glide precise eyes on broom across the sheet send the stone along the ice. Skip is yelling from the house to the sweepers, “Hurry hard!” Rock is light and slowing fast comes to rest, a perfect guard. Rival stone sits in the rings they… Continue reading Curling
cars and vans yield duffle bags backpacks, rolling luggage while camp butterflies flutter the stomach women's voices chatter excitement conference room buzzes the timbre of worker bees jammies, slippers for movie time absentmindedly pop another Miss Vicky's absorbed in the chase tables are a gracious-living centrefold of damask and crystal a cheery good-morning line meanders… Continue reading church ladies retreat for the weekend
The diagnosis of brother’s rare cancer sparks her into a frenzy of research every cell bent on sleuthing knowing, understanding the enemy. The answering machine and no call back when we ring the farm likely means more medical trips (later photos of him in radioactive quarantine show her, like a prison wife on the other… Continue reading Caregiver
Kite of Spirit-wind the mention of Zambia lifts you into currents of memory – dancing, singing, preaching – class ascends with you the kite’s tail. Breeze swoops you in a prophetic direction: “You have dreams, abandon cynicism let God have His way.” We trail behind not sure where this is going. You reassure us, laughing:… Continue reading To Pastor Anne – Mentor
Rain Chatter-complains onto umbrellas and tin roofs gurgles grief through drain holes and downspouts tantrum dances in puddles, scars the creek swells the brown stream to a swift anger. All day my heavy sky weeps inconsolable for families of thirty-some Moscow strangers and a sweet brother held hostage by cancer in a Saskatchewan farmhouse. ©… Continue reading Rain
WARDROBE OF SHOES Runners and Mary Janes oxfords and flats flip flops and sandals with matching straw hats that’s what you’ll find in my wardrobe of shoes cushy and wide or my feet sing the blues. I long for platforms stilettos and mules slingbacks and dress pumps with sparkly heels but my old feet are… Continue reading Shoe closet
Sun rises southeast early morning skies glow peach leaves are breakfast flakes Sun stares in my eyes outlines bold on winter floors crisp boxes of light Rises in dazzle flashes wicked black-ice wink Far-off sirens wail Southeast moon hangs low ghostly lantern in the sky Porch light’s on all day Early afternoon hums with… Continue reading Winter
The Son vanishes just after I am sent to the Galilean virgin and heaven isn’t the same. Gone the laughter, mischief, hijinks. Music replaced by silence all monochromatic, sober like the life of the party has left and we don’t have the will to keep partying or to go home. The Almighty’s been moody since… Continue reading How the Natal Star Was Born
The winter berry is a cheery thing To land-bound creatures and those on the wing. It drapes in sprays along bare estate walls And festoons prickly ivy ten feet tall Lights up the cedar fences aged so dark Clusters on humble hedge twigs in the park. It spurns the gentler spring, summer and fall… Continue reading The Winter Berry
To move Alice you had to sit her up and steady her till MS relaxed its grip exercise her knees till they flexed limp then position the strap and call for help – Together now lift, swivel careful she’s stiffening... don’t let her slide to the floor! I daydreamed while I fed Anna porridge till… Continue reading First Job
Violet Nesdoly 