Tuesday, March 26, 2019

the map that changed me



I wear a coat of red
inhaling icy air of winter 
from Blue mountains to Lake Ontario
at 2 C, my skin is tough as maple tree

As I stand on top of Centennial park hill
a black hawk swirls above wind-tossed sky
my eyes scan sunlit cityscape   
from Mississauga condo buildings & houses
to the CN Tower at the distant Toronto City

This land is not a stranger
Not anymore, from falling autumn leaves to
maple syrup, to toque & snow pants, trees in
Riverwood Conservation and Halton Hills parks

Though Downtown Toronto is familiar work map
I love hiking along Credit River & Etobicoke Creek
rejoicing with orange breasted cardinals,
red winged blackbirds, swans and geese 
clawing and feasting on rain-soaked soil 

Over 14 seasons, I flowed 
into nature's cycle, a single raindrop 
into the mighty Niagara Falls, encompassing 
all our small beginnings into 1 mighty roar - home



Centennial Park, March 25, 2019



Posted for dVerse Poets Pub - Geography, Poetics,hosted by Anmol.  Please join us when the pub doors open at 3pm EST.

20 comments:

  1. You’ve captured the chill and the expanse of the landscape in this poem, Grace, and you are the bright splash of colour in the first stanza, with close competition from the birds in these lovely lines:
    ‘rejoicing with orange breasted cardinals,
    red winged blackbirds, swans and geese
    clawing and feasting on rain-soaked soil’.

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  2. Over 14 seasons, I flowed
    into nature's cycle, a single raindrop
    into the mighty Niagara Falls, encompassing
    all our small beginnings into 1 mighty roar - home

    That last stanza is just gorgeous - a perfect metaphor, absolutely grounded in a place. Lovely.

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  3. I really love this.. especially how you describe this your new home in such a wonderful terms... geography is also about how your define your home.

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  4. Nice final stanza with that might roar of home.

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  5. This is gorgeously rendered, Grace!❤️ I especially like; "This land is not a stranger/Not anymore, from falling autumn leaves to/maple syrup, to toque & snow pants."❤️

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  6. What a lovely presentation ending in the mighty roar. Beautiful write, Grace!

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  7. I like how you capture getting acquainted with a new place, and the joy felt when it becomes familiar.

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  8. I, agree, your last stanza is outstanding, a poem in itself, like ending with a tanka. Your word-smithing is colorful, powerful, and you use geography as
    the spice in a new food. You make Toronto seem delicious.

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  9. Ah, what a lovely read! Your imagery is so rich with its details and the captured essence of this expanse with its landmarks and monuments. It's beautiful how you bring about the idea of home — its geography becomes individual and thus, the center of attention, in its experience and emotions. That last stanza is indeed a thing of poetic brilliance! :-)

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  10. Just beautiful Grace! I spent every AUGUST until my 17th birthday in the lakes region of Espanola, Ontario, Canada. We had an island with no electricity, no running water, and no telepone. We had to portage through a 7 mile chain of lakes, bringing all our supplies for the month in a boat we would tow behind us. The lake loons used to serenade me to sleep, under billions and billions of stars - and occasionally the Aurora Borealis. I loved the summers of my youth in that region!

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  11. This is really lovely,Grace. It definitely fits your "everyday amazing." Like others, I especially like that last stanza.

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  12. I liked the thought of one raindrop joining with all the others to flow over the mighty Niagra Falls

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  13. Sure one flow altogether now that in the know

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  14. Intriguing poem, especially the ending...


    peace and love
    1ManView

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  15. This is wonderful to read, Grace! Beautiful.

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  16. Birds are such an important part of our geographies, city or country.

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  17. You truly capture the landscape beautifully. Love the last two powerful lines.

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  18. Beautiful incorporation of the city and geography with yourself

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