Discovering Ottawa: Mer Bleue

September 16, 2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

“Did you see anything cool?” We ask the young boys running ahead of their mother in the parking lot. “Frogs!” they exclaim. “There’s a frog sitting on a wasp’s nest, catching the wasps as they exit,” another group tells us. We head in that direction. We’ve come to Mer Bleue Conservation area just east of […]

In the Neighbourhood

June 28, 2018.Reading time 4 minutes.

It is the first official week of summer, although steamy weather set in last month. Today there is a break in the humidity, so Ric and I decide to explore local nature. We’ve come to the Strathroy Conservation Area, along the Sydenham River. Recent rains have flooded much of the grounds, so we stick to […]

Where Are The Dogs?

Contemplating risk –a reunion with a former selflooking for an exit When did I become a snakerestrained?When did I become persona non grata? I slither between storiesconvince myself I can flydistraction a ruse I have big cat energyoverstepping boundariessocially adverse A faulty jeweldreaming of abundance but there’s a dragon to disarm My mother’s burden on my […]

Turning (tanka)

Mother

When I had a mothermy hair would cascadein curls of auburn perfectiona red velvet bow to accentuate the wave And I’d wear my bestnewly sewn frockwith lace at the neckand fishnet stockingsand patent Mary Janes And the girls giggling with delightwould skip hand-in-handto the school promand the boys shyly perchedagainst the back wall would wonderhow […]