Canada Day: impressions of a summer ride

[vaneramos]

(cross-posted to free_write)

I'm always driving from here to tomorrow, along the line of simmering aspens, where road winds past wheat fields, bales behind tractors. The sky sinks in a purple crowd on the hills. Lights twinkle on young corn stems. You are always here when I am away, and you dissolve away quickly when I open my eyes. Your hand slips like the distant car on that sinuous hill.

Along the roadside: berry stands. People bent at the middle, plucking richness and sweetness to store for a distant winter morning. I should gather some, too, make strawberry jam and hope you'll be here with dark fur breaking the cut of your white robe, sipping coffee and holding its mist against pale light, spreading my summer memories on your bite of toast. If I remember closely enough, I feel you there again.

But the highway keeps stretching these green Ontario hills apart, stretching until we drop into the gullet of earth and find our death mixed among nibbling plankton of a far ago seaway. I keep following the path, but meanwhile the story spreads every direction, along furlongs and harrows.

The Lincoln's sparrow has a song, but I haven't learned it yet. Listen by the denser brush along the pine plantation, on the steep hill by the guardrail where someone has planted a cross with the name Rebecca. I draw the vision of a slushy highway out of someone else's grief.

Today it is all haze and heat waves washing the shore of this drumlin as I wind toward home, picking up shells from sifting music on the beach of air. Hollow smoke curls around me. I am here. Can you feel my voice resonate? Do you get the drift of my fingers?

Comments

[ubermunkey.livejournal.com]

God your poet soul is balm for the munkeymind.
You've no idea how these thoughts of yours,
given form
move me.
There is this little place inside me
that doesn't storm
that is quiet and calm
even when the munkey mind
scampers about seeking drama and turmoil
more and more I access it.
The random moments become short interludes of light and connection
in a wild mindstorm.

thank you for these moments

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I was driving with you in mind, and this was written with you in mind. It is just raw words, but I worked a poem out of it this morning and sent it to you. Hope you enjoy.
Love,
Van

[ubermunkey.livejournal.com]

I'm touched by this Van, I've never had a poem written for me or inspired by me.
And I got the email and I love the poem. I'll have to print it and put it in a collage.
The time with you was good on so many levels, from the comfortable silence to the more physical comfort.
be well
love
connor

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Do you mind if I post it with the dedication?

[ubermunkey.livejournal.com]

Not in the least, you honor me greatly.
namaste
were you here I'd give you a giant long sloppy bear hug.

[clairenolen.livejournal.com]

i enjoy your writing a lot! thank you..:-)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Your welcome, and thank you. I've already felt a resonance with your writing and photography. It's stirring me up.

[tim-e-bear.livejournal.com]

Very nice (yes, a weak word, I grant you).

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Glad you liked it. :-)