Poetry and Photo

The Romans called today the “ides” of March – the middle of the month – and in Shakespeare’s play a fortune teller warns Julius Caesar: “beware the ides of March.” (He didn’t listen and was murdered on this day in 44BC.)

For me, March 15 is all about renewal. Every year about this time I feel the urge to plant something. Try something different. Start something new. Of course the ground is still frozen in Ottawa, and I’ve been shovelling the driveway this week, and nothing green will show up in my gardens for at least another month.

So I’ve been experimenting with new (to me) forms of poetry, and studying photo composition. Walking around the village of Richmond looking for new sites to photograph – when it’s pretty enough to do so. Cleaning out that basement closet to open up physical space, which always invites more open creative space too.

This month’s poem is in two parts: the first part is in the form of a “prose poem”, which looks a lot like a paragraph, but which strives to be more lyrical, more graceful in language and description. Part two is a story in free verse, where I imagine the answer to a mystery car that is only revealed in the early spring or in winter, when there are few or no leaves on trees to provide cover. I took the photo of it near our cottage in Muskoka.

Hope you get to feeling renewed and energized in March! Meanwhile, please pause and ponder this month’s “somewhere beautiful.” Where does this mystery take your imagination? I’d love to know! Here’s “Ridge Road.”

Lee Ann

Hello there!

After a busy and productive January, I find myself in a quieter, more reflective state this month. Maybe brought on by weather? Winter in Ottawa this year has been a cycle of relentless cold followed by seemingly endless overcast, yet more snow to shovel and then you’ve-got-to-be-kidding-me rain. I have not been out on my snowshoes once!

But lately… I’ve noticed the longer day length. Winterlude got underway in Ottawa. And Canada scored another medal at the winter games! I’m starting to feel a bit more energized.

Whether you escape February altogether in search of warmer climes, or find something uniquely wintery to enjoy, I hope you find a way this month to pause and re-charge your batteries. Meanwhile, here’s a poem and photo about different ways of staying charged:  INTROVERT

Hello there!

Wow – a mere couple of weeks are left in 2017! For me, the year started on the run, and then flew by with astounding speed. Was it the same for you?

I want to take a moment to thank all of you for following me this year, and for all the supportive and encouraging comments you posted! I am in the process of deciding what my writing life will consist of in 2018, but I must say, I am enjoying the poetry and photography so much that I think I can predict there will be more of that next year. I hope you stay tuned and stay with me.

Meanwhile, it’s finally snowy in my neighbourhood, but this month’s photo is of a scene a long way from Ottawa. I thought I’d post it now, as a way of giving anyone who is living with the Canadian winter a view of something warmer… and also to remind us all of the importance of stepping back to refresh ourselves.

I took the picture in Jamaica earlier this year, and it seemed the perfect illustration for my poem called Ebbtide. Maybe you can enjoy a warm beverage while you spend a moment in this beautiful place.

May your holidays be merry and bright!

Lee Ann

Hello, there!

Well, I dug the last of the veggies from my garden yesterday: the carrots, which always benefit from a frost, and we’ve had a couple of good ones here in my neighbourhood. I find myself living more inwardly these past couple of weeks, both physically (soup’s on and close the windows!) and mentally (winter projects and Christmas shopping, anyone?) How about you?

Before  we shut the door completely on the glory that is the Canadian autumn, I’m excited to share a photo from my guest photographer this month: Kate Graham. Kate, who regularly walks my son’s dog, Kesler, snapped an extraordinary shot and graciously allowed me to post it. I was immediately inspired to write from it! Please take a moment in your busy day to relax and see what the photograph inspires in you. For me, it was JOY.

Lee Ann

Hello there!

Today I’m musing about the changing seasons. As one season fades and another arrives, I believe that’s the best time to get outside and look around. What’s gorgeous in your neighbourhood that last season just blended into your surroundings? (Like these fabulous fruits and colours on the Virginia Creeper in my back yard!)  If you widen your gaze, you may be surprised at what inspires you… or invites you to take a deep, relaxing breath.

You may find yourself in one of those “moments somewhere beautiful” that I’m always talking about!

I was inspired to write this month’s poem when on a flight to southern Ontario. I looked up – and wrote Flying on Instruments. Hope you enjoy it.

Lee Ann

Hello there! How is your summer going ?

To celebrate the summer season, I’d like to share with you two of my poems (one today, one next month) that recently won Honorable Mention awards at the national poetry competition run by the Canadian Authors Association. I’m so thrilled to be recognized in this contest – made even more special by the publication of an anthology of winners as part of the Canada 150 celebrations! The anthology includes winners of both the poetry and short story contests – great summer reading! And it’s available from the National Capital Region Branch of the CAA,  OR (thanks to subscriber Lynn for pointing this out) from Amazon here.

Although photography was not part of the competition, I did have in mind a photo for each of the poems. This month’s shot was taken along the banks of the Jock River near my home.

I hope you can pause for a few moments and enjoy “Too Long a Winter”.

Lee Ann