blue hour

if i can pour silence in a cup

i would like to drink it at night

not as warm maple tea

but cold as winter ice wine

not too sweet or spicy

to run down my throat to ignite

excitement or astonishment

but rather

the familiar hug of an old 

friend, that knows the hollows

& turns of my seasons 

& times when i need

to see the starlights and  

the new moon instead of

full-bodied white wintered sky-

what space i have drawn

is briefly magical as blooming

pink peonies

in between frames, 

i am unemcumbered by the weights

& stresses of the day

i get lost in the maze & snarls of words

-coaxing lines muddled with black birds-

as i inhale the crisp smell of pine trees

alas, the noise of the house

clatters & hums as the clock

steals away an hour & marks it:

(false) spring! 

Posted for dVerse Poets Pub - Poetry of Place and Space, hosted by Ingrid.  Thank you Ingrid!!!     There are references of the city and country where I have now resided for 18 years.   We have a long winter season.

Postcard from Medicine Lake, Jasper

Photo by Grace@Everyday Amazing

The Excelsior fire in summer of 2015 left the forest a fragment of its lush vegetation.  Tall skeletal trees, burnt logs and roots, form a silent graveyard.   The rain had stopped the wildfire from wrecking further havoc on the small town of Jasper, Alberta province.   The area is a grim reminder of the harsh realisties of wildfire during summer.  

Around the flanks of the forest, lake rises up to vibrancy during spring and summer. The clouds can be dark from the distance.  But the tides are calm, soothing balm for the place of what was once a firestorm.   What once was a carribou country where the First Nations thrived.   The contrast of lake's startling beauty and emptiness from wildfire surrounding it, is a visual and spiritual experience. The area may not be a tourist perfect area.  Yet here is where life and death intertwined.

cloudy morning
two bald eagles nest on a tree-
wind cries - distant drums -

Photo by Grace@Everyday Amazing

Medicine Lake, Jasper National Park

Alberta, Canada

Posted for D'verse Poets Pub - How Wonderfully Imperfect (wabi-sabi) for Haibun Monday, hosted by Victoria C. Slotto.  Join us when the pub door opens by 3pm EST.  I am back after my Alberta vacation.

postcard: first autumn

first inhale -you are breathtaking.  a sea of colors i have not seen before.   i marvel at the bright shades of leaves shimmering like jewels under the sun.  you spark the boldness in me as you fold the long summer nights to shorter cooler days.   change can be beautiful.   you inspire me to embrace change. my second motherland, our heartbeats may not be wholly in sync for now, but i am listening to my guts.  my footprints follow your peace, gentle as autumn breeze.  

    
beyond the wooden bridge
maple leaves fall softly as rain -
i turn a page

Grace@ Etobicoke Creek Trail

Posted for D'verse Poets Pub - Poetics;  first time hosted by Kelly Letky ~ I remember my first year in Canada many years ago - it was a season of changes.   Thanks the visit ~

Postcard from Old Quebec

My steps
are a mere whisper
on these narrow streets
cobbled with ruined stones
Sounds of the past
reverberate
above the silent cannons & flags 
of Citadelle of Quebec
in time with
changing of the guards
in bright red coats

Here is the city
site of battles
& different civilization
over 100 years ago
preserved like an old postcard
Standing on Dufferin Terrace
I marvel at the
lush gardens
European architecture of towers,
charm of old doors & window arches,
quaint lodgings & cozy restaurants

The gem of all 
is to view
the majestic 
Chateau Frontenac
overlooking Lawrence river is
to behold a gigantic palace in sky
I am a child
awed
listening to history
unraveling & retracing-
so I may
know the bosom of my
new motherland

Chateau Frontenac, viewed from across Lawrence River

Quebec City

Posted for D'verse Poets Pub - Adventures in Travelling - I have been to this city twice, and I highly recommend it.   Thanks for the visit ~

Wanted men over Athabasca River

Where tar sands explode as fire
Where oil spills are black tears
Into my river stretching far
It matters much to me

Where the forest birds tarry slow
Where bison graze & die
There's my boreal forest, my sky
It matters much to me

This land beats with grandfathers' blood
Water for brewing food
Thick oil for our birch canoes
Animals for kinship

My lantern's light is fading low
I raise my voice to wind
Is it too late, too late, I cry?
Death is noisy machine

Sucking each velvet stone to dust
Laying pipelines & belts
Contaminating air with sulfur
Trampling down aged trees

Twilight comes with heavy yoke
Choking every wildlife 
With poison, we drink our stench
Money is new sun 

Browning our pelts & copper pots
Minting palms with gold grit
Where are the watchmen? 
Where are they?

 Photo by  JEFF MCINTOSH/THE CANADIAN PRESS  

The Athabasca river, highway construction and suburbs seen from a helicopter in Fort McMurray, Alta., in July 2012.

I have been reading the Atkinson Series:  Shifting Sands, Examining the Costs of Oil Sands Bargain.   The Athabasca River originates from a glacier in Jasper National Park, located in the Rocky Mountains. It is the longest river in Alberta, and runs past the oil sands. Organizations like the Pembina Institute have long been asking for strict rules for oil sands developers and processors to protect the river.

For additional reading and to hear TED Talk video about Alberta Tar Sands Project, click here.

Posted for D'verse Poets Pub - Poetics:  What does the Watchman See?  

Thanks for the visit ~

Northern Lights

The sky is sea-nymph

drumming the night with star dust

The clouds are flare-hatchers

rolling, roaring, ricocheting

whiplash colors fleeting madly  

bleeding in dramatic reverberation

A curtain wildly unfolding & sweeping 

broad brushstrokes

lavish pigments of universe's womb

a glimpse of mystery totally

magnetic, thrilling every pore of our skin

Then you are gone quickly- 

ballerina's fluid air-leap, grand jete 

Aurora over South South Saskatchewan River, Canada, August 18, 2015

by Dale Boan

Video by vimeo is here

Posted for D'verse Poets Pub - Hosted by Bjorn Rudberg

One maple leaf

Grace @ Everyday Amazing

a leaf falls

into a bed of leaves

bruised-black, yellow-starched, pressed

wet on the city’s ground

perhaps one more leaf

will not matter to the harried pedestrians

or window cleaners high up on the buildings

perhaps it will only matter

to the street sweeper or the corner beggar

where 1 is more than a number

chalked on graffiti-broken walls  

I pick a red leaf  

on my palm it is flaming:

a dragon’s wing, a shooting star, a beating

heart

above the buildings, 

our one red mapled-flag is flaring in the wind

it is raised in half-mast this week in respect

to two fallen soldiers  

red poppies will soon adorn our lapels.

I am grateful for this autumn sky, brushing

every single fallen leaf

with its glorious soul-print, loyal & true      

Posted for D'verse Poets Pub

Bitten

I can withstand

storms, sun & wind

Bare on my back

stirring old bones to creaking

But when you found me

& burrowed your teeth

& tunneled your body

deep into my guts & liver, 

I turn red brown

suckered of sap & fruits

bitten black, scarred grey

feasted like honeycomb until I

tumble down, a king

whittled penniless by marauding bandits 

Notes:   When a tree is infested by pine beetles, the dead needles on the pine trees turn bright red. These beetles cause devastation by killing the pine trees and in the coming years, they are expected to wipe out over 80% of British Columbia's pine forest.

During our summer visit to BC last year, I was impressed with the architectural marvel of the Richmond Olympic Stadium.   The  wood ceiling is made of 1 million feet of salvaged pine beetle wood from forests of BC. The bitten wood panels made the ceiling unique & beautiful.

Grace @ Everyday Amazing

Richmond Olympic Stadium, BC

Posted for D'verse Poets Pub - Hosted by Bjorn -  Happy Weekend ~

Where we will sit & dine

Spanish Banks, Vancouver, BC

Grace @ Everyday Amazing

Sit beside me
Where the sky blows, cools fresh as pines      
Sit beside me
Where fine sands melt into the sea
Wind, forest, sun - these we will dine  
And bottle summer days to wine 
Sit beside me


Posted for Poetry Jam - Summer Heat - Enjoying the summer heat in BC ~ 
Poetry form:   Rondelet -Seven lines with the rhyme scheme of AbAabbA ~

in the old city

Grace @ Everyday Amazing

Old Quebec, Quebec City

the artilleries are silent now, 
black shiny sentinels, facing the river
mindless of tourists wandering about, 
like ghosts, oblivious to history-

after more than 300 years of icy winters,
narrow streets are empty of horses
& gunpowder that tore the city into 
fragments and searching for its roots-  

only tall golden towers are bustling 
with the rich and famous, as if its walls never 
forgot its gilded beginnings of French verses
& stiffly crusted English cakes--

if these chipped buildings can talk, 
what stories would we hear-
if these cannons can speak 
in deep gravelled voices,
what betrayals would we know -

across the benches, sun-warmed,  
tulips bloom  amidst foreign scents & words,  
needing no diplomacy, its bold arms
draw an invisible map- 

i slowly walk, listening to echoes 
of those who have walked before me 
but really,   
i am still trying to find my place --

Posted for:   D'verse Poets Pub - Poetics - Hosted by Mary  

Perhaps and maybes

This coming June 25, we would be 6 years in Canada.    A lot things have happened when we first landed here, carrying our hopes and dreams for a better life for my children, and for my husband and myself.

We have survived the challenges that any immigrant faces - the bitter and cold winter months,  employment, jobs, passing the tests,  schools, taxes, home and just about finding our spot in this big and wonderful country.   We are now citizens and holding a Canadian passport which makes travelling a little bit easier.   

Sometimes, my family and I would think about what life could have been, if we have not migrated.   My children were pampered and spoiled before, and never worked a day in their lives.  During the past years, my older children quickly grew up - working and studying at the same time, and learned to stand on their own.  My husband and I had a tougher time adjusting to the work environment but we also quickly "grew up".    There are some things we can do better, and there are some things we just have to accept.

Who knows what life could have been?   Maybe it would have been better, maybe it would have been worse if we did not move to Canada.    I don't know until now if we have made the right decision to burn our bridges, and just start anew in this country.   Because even if we have adjusted in Canada, there is nothing quite the feeling of home and belonging to one's native Motherland.   But I do know this -  I have no regrets being in Canada.   Though we continue to have our challenges,  we are blessed with so many things specially our children.   And for this, I am always thankful that we are where we are supposed to be -  together and enjoying God's blessings.

quote credit:   http://bitsotruth.blogspot.com

Go with your heart

We visited our friends yesterday and had a wonderful time walking in their new town (the weather was cool) while catching up with news and updates.   Both our families have migrated to Canada and had our own share of challenges while taking care of our children.   We agreed that the future belongs to our sons and daughters.   We, as parents and older professionals, will just have to make the best of our lot, and move forward.

My musing after our visit:

Your choices and decisions determine your path in life.  Be brave to spread your wings and see what lies ahead and beyond.  It doesn't matter if you eventually discovered it is not for you.   At least now you know better.    Don't regret your decisions because you are always a better person and a stronger individual in making a firm stand.   For me, what is pitiful is for someone to go through life, with half their eyes closed, afraid and fearful of the unknown and never experiencing nor having their heart touched by deep passions or emotions.   Live life to the fullest.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!

"Wherever you go, go with all your heart." -Confucius

Picture credit: http://www.pyranha.ch/index.php?showimage=28

The same tree, the same humanity

Since I live in a multi cultural city in Canada, I am always amaze of how different people are and yet are also alike in a lot of ways. Sure, we originally came from different countries, race and upbringing, and it is reflected in our food and clothing, and also religious faith, if any.  But once you get to know individuals and families, you discover that you share the same values, and appreciation for life and your country.    As a mom, I share the same concerns with any mom with a growing teen daughter.    As a working professional, I share the same health and family concerns like other working women.  In the broader context, I believe in freedom of expression so I sympathize with other people in other countries who want to break away from political tyranny and oppression.   It is heartening to realize that you and other individuals share the same compassion and sadness when others are hurt and suffering, and happiness, when families, teams and countries come together for peace and understanding.

Also, because I believe that despite our external differences, sometime back in ancient times, all of us are connected or related in one way or another.   If we can appreciate this, then perhaps we can be more tolerant of each other's differences and learn to co-exist more peacefully.

Do you agree that at one time, we all came from the same tree?

Picture Credit:  Luke Tscharke

http://www.luketscharke.com/index.php?showimage=80

Living in a "livable city"

What am I most thankful for today???

According to the recent Economist Intellegience Unit survey, I am living (beside it actually) in one of the top 10 most livable city in the world.   The city that  I am referring to is Toronto, ranked 4th in the list.   Two other Canadian cities were in the top 10, Vancouver is ranked No. 1 (for the past 5 years) and Calgary is 5th.

This survey just validates what every immigrant family know - that Canada is a good country to live and raise children.   It is peaceful and relatively stable without the unrest and troubles of other countries (Turkey, Libya, etc).    We do have access to health care, education, clean water and the basic government services.

You would think that Canadians are generally a happy people because of our blessings.   Some are, but some are complainers. People here gripe about taxes, roads, traffic, garbage, budget and a whole lot of other domestic issues, that gives  Toronto City, a not so picture perfect city to live.

Some of you might even be surprised to know that some Canadians suffer from depression due to work and stress.   I personally find this a paradox considering the relative wealth and stability of Canada compared to other countries.  Consider the global snapshot:

*1/3 of the world population live in extreme poverty with no access to basic needs like clean water


* almost half the world - over three billion people - live on less than $US 2.50 a day.

When one considers what most people don't even have, we are indeed blessed that we have the freedom and peace and even prosperity to enjoy the simple pleasures of life.

So, when I hear people here complaining or getting depressed about their situation, I think of people in much worse situation than we are.    I just shrug away the negative comments and accept it as part of my decision to live in this city.   From the way I see it,  things don't look so bad after all.

Here is beautiful picture of Toronto city by night ~

Picture credit:  http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/10/09/02/

Article credit:   http://ca.news.yahoo.com/vancouver-remains-worlds-most-livable-city-survey-20110220-160000-051.html

Always bring your own sunshine

We are in the middle of winter with temperature dropping below zero (C).    Sometimes the sun is out shining brightly, giving warmth to a cold and chilly day.   The weather outside is something we can't control given that we now live in Canada.   I used to live in a tropical country where there was just 2 kinds of weather, sun or rain.   My mood for the day was affected by the weather - I get grumpy when it is cold and wet, and happy when it is sunny and bright.

Now, I don't have that luxury anymore as our summer here in Canada is so short (just 3 months).   I realize that I need to have an "internal weather" in my mind, regardless of the weather conditions outside.  If not, and I let the weather and external conditions affect me, I will be grumpy person most of the time.   I know that it is not easy to be always  cheerful and upbeat  specially when you have problems in your life.  It takes a lot of effort and persistence to be cheerful and have a sunny disposition despite the challenges you have at home and at work.   But I find out that once my mind is set on having a "summer weather", that it becomes easier to share a laugh, a kind word, a helping hand and even an encouraging  remark or comment to others.

To help me have a "summer weather"  mindset, the colors in our home and in my room, are bright and warm; and in my office, I have pictures of flowers and beaches in my wall and in my computer.   If I feel grumpy and depressed, I talk to my family and friends, watch funny and light hearted movies, do my yoga or any physcial activity, or listen to upbeat songs, to shake off the "bad" mood.    And most importantly, I read a lot of stories specially inspirational  and uplifting articles to keep my thoughts focus on the good and blessed things we have in our life.

What about you?   What do you do to "bring your own sunshine"?

"Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine." -Anthony J. D'Angelo

~ Hope everyone is having a good week~

picture credit:  happythings.tumbr

Happy Family Day !

What entails your "family day" ?

In Canada, we are celebrating Family Day on Monday, Feb.21, 2011.

Though this is a nice excuse to have another holiday and have a long weekend, spending time with the family is a good break from work and school schedules.    The "family time" may be as simple as reading the book together or sharing the meal together as everyone is home, or going for a vacation.

Whatever is your type of "family day", enjoy the time with your loved ones specially when the children are young.   Children may not always remember their toys or clothes or room or the places they have been or their friends during their childhood years.

But they always remember the happy times spent with their family.

Family Day is observed in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan on the third Monday of February. This holiday celebrates the importance of families and family life to people and their communities.

~ HAPPY FAMILY DAY EVERYONE ~

Picture credit:  happythings.tumblr