Losing my Kitten A free verse poem on loss and memory The imminent loss of my beloved Anne evokes childhood loss. Anne, my Kitten, a mortally wounded creature, quivers in my arms, her body folded into the shape of soon-to-be eternal surrender. I whisper her pet name, “Kit, Kitty,” my lips brushing the soft..
For Anne in her palliative care bed, every day is “Sweet Dessert Day” Rewind to the early 1980s: Like so many first-time parents, Anne and I were brimming with righteous resolve to shield our offspring from the evils of junk food. “Sweet Dessert Day” was our grand idea, a weekly treat so exclusive it..
For Anne, Who Still Loves the Soundscape of Dr. Seuss In the thinning light of evening, your hands still reach for colours that rhyme. The gentle tumble of Seuss’s words spills like bright marbles across the quiet hospital room. Perhaps they remind you that the world can stay playful, even when the body forgets how…
Kindred connections: The timeless bond of cousins for Anne and me Cousins hold a truly unique place in our hearts – often the first friends we have in life, they bridge family ties and share in our joys and burdens with a special understanding born of shared history. In times of hardship, like the..
Ramblings on January 25 to celebrate Robbie Burns’ Birthday Every year, on January 25th, the Scottish people, including the Scottish diaspora, celebrate Burns’ Night. This is the night where Scots highlight the life and works of Robert Burns, a poet and lyricist, and arguably one of Scotland’s most notable figures. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/robert-burns In my..
Christmas for Anne in Slovakia As you know, many Canadians – and people the world over – celebrate Christmas today, on what we call “Christmas Eve.” https://flamingosschool.com/when-do-people-celebrate-christmas-in-various-countries-around-the-world/ For my wife Anne’s family December 25 was a mere afterthought, a day to recover from the previous day’s festivities. December 24 was THE day. Anne’s..
Reflections on Christmas Sunday and Christmas Carol Season: A Loss of Innocence From an early age I have been obsessed with the Biblical narrative of the Fall from grace, with its vivid imagery of innocence lost in Eden. From the time that I turned 12 or so, the story has resonated deeply as..
A Child’s Christmas Carol Confusion Wonder and Bewilderment in Yuletide Lyrics* When I was a small child growing up in Georgetown, Ontario, Christmas carols embodied an enchanting mystery – a flurry of twinkling words and sounds that tumbled through the air as delightfully as snowflakes, yet made about as much sense as trying to build..
Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in our Hearts When I was in Grade 12 at Oakridge Secondary School in 1968, a friend passed on a cassette featuring all the songs of the musical “Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Brel_is_Alive_and_Well_and_Living_in_Paris At that open and vulnerable age, I..
Tutoring French in London, Ontario, 1967 I was good in French; in fact, I was good at school, the academic part anyway. In phys ed or manual training, I was what my father kindly referred to as a dead loss. Back in the day, being an honours student was a catastrophic blow to any..