Monday, August 26, 2019

ice deep



encase me in your belly
down
deep 
basin of the lake

in stillness
hear sounds of
giant turtle, salamander,
turkey vulture-
gathering of burnt
corn, feathers,
bear skin

that crisp orange-yellow
of setting sun
doesn't ripple-melt me

i sleep
in the tranquility of ever-
                                      green 





  My photos of Lake Crawford, Milton, Ontario.
An Iroquoian village lived near this lake over 600 years ago.


Posted for dVerse Poets Pub  - Quadrille,hosted by Lillian.  This is a 44 word post with the given word - tranquility.   

Notes about Lake Crawford:  Meromictic Lake
The heart of the park is the eponymous meromictic lake: Crawford Lake. Do you know what makes this lake a rarity? The lake is deeper than its surface area, so the lowest levels of water are very rarely disturbed, and little oxygen reaches the lowest levels. It’s the unique qualities of a meromictic lake that led to an exciting discovery—where science unveiled local history. Researchers and scientists found ancient corn pollen deep in the sediment of the lake. The presence of corn meant settlements, and thus this began the research, which concluded, that First Nations groups settled in this area over six hundred years ago.

23 comments:

  1. LOVING the personification here....the reader becoming the lake ...
    and the spacing of down and deep takes me there! A tranquil write for sure!

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  2. Oh I love the back story of what this poem speaks of.. what's hidden deep in evergreen.

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  3. Thanks for letting us know about the lake. How very interest that First Nations settled there. I like your listing of sacrificial and shamanic items.

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  4. This is so beautiful Grace, especially

    'that crisp orange-yellow
    of setting sun
    doesn't ripple-melt me

    i sleep
    in the tranquility of evergreen'

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  5. Grace, both your photos and your words are stunning.

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  6. especially telling are the sounds of "feathers,
    bear skin" and the silence of ages that is in the sediment

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  7. The color of the water in such a tranquil setting. To think 600 years ago it was like this brings peace. I hope this place and others like it stay undisturbed.

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  8. i sleep
    in the tranquility of ever-
    green

    a great close

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  9. Love this collection, especially:
    "gathering of burnt
    corn, feathers,
    bear skin"

    And that "tranquility of ever" -- oh, YES.

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  10. Lovely poem. Thanks for the background info.

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  11. This is "deep listening!" A beautiful piece! Love the photos. Your title page is the picture of tranquility also!

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  12. Cool. I liked the hearing sounds as well as the quiet of the lake.

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  13. Lovely verse and completely amazing story of meromictic lakes - who would have thought such a rich nomenclature to describe these deep still waters.

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  14. In the tranquility of ever-green--beautiful! It looks so peaceful (though cold, I imagine). Thank you for including the fascinating information about the lake and the First Nations settlements.

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  15. This touches the inner being and takes it where it should be, closer to nature.

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  16. This is lovely, Grace. And the last words "ever green" are so grounding (no pun intended).

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  17. Nature is a great source of tranquility, a place to find true stillness.

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  18. A beautifully written poem and tribute to the nature that surrounds you in Ontario. It looks much like Washington where I live.

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  19. Gorgeous ending and setting. I am glad you included a back story to this.

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  20. Your poem, in both content and voice, brings to life the history of this beautiful place. Lovely.

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  21. Color of Life Color
    of Calm Green
    Color of Living
    Trees of
    Life Tranquility
    Exhales so We Will inhale Life..:)

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