edge of the ocean
salt starts a craving for sea
comes to me in waves
Tide Me Over – Haiku
Tag: summer
Earth to Ash Podcast Episode # 34 – End of Summer
Welcome back, join me and my continuing conversation about my thoughts, feelings, and emotions to the world around me.
In this episode, I’m walking on some early Saturday sunshine chatting about the end of summer. I speak a bit about how this time of year has a feel to it and how many of us are scrambling to do all things summer in the final weeks of August. And, as always, I throw in a poem for good measure.
Enjoy!!
Email: earth2ash@gmail.com
In the Heat of the Moment
we used to catch grasshoppers on sun kissed Saturday mornings
between that and sliding down the hill on torn up cardboard our day was filled to the brim
laughing and carrying on in the void of time
taking trails and pathways in the forest to places we stored secrets and where monsters dwelled
sometimes, we’d blow kisses at dandelions sending them on journeys to who knows where
while shielding the sun from our brows to see where we should go off to next
my calculator watch blinks half past three, one hour til supper, still time to explore
the fish plant whistle sounds, and we look across the harbour just like the last time we heard it
this time a big boat captures our attention wondering what adventures they’ve had, how high were their seas and were there pirates
a seagull soars high squawking its return, coming back to us for a visit, it was never the same one….but we didn’t care
those days were hot, the ocean was cold, our little boy hearts warm
in the heat of the moment we thought the world stretched forever from the hillside where we perched and one day we would get to see the rest
for now, our world was big enough because our dreams were much much bigger
A Shade of Ash # 43 – Talk To You Tomorrow
I remember those Saturday nights we’d walk home together. In the lull of a quiet harbour. Watch a boat go out or watch the one cab we had drive down the south side. Laughing, carrying on with each other, and three sheets to the wind. Sometimes we would talk the ears off each other, other times you were too contrary. But, I would always make you laugh until you were over it.
Our strolls home from a party, a wedding dance, or the club were where our friendship grew the most. How comforting it was to have you as my best friend. You’ll always be my best friend, but I miss you and being alone under a streetlight at night still makes me mad…
…talk to you tomorrow.
A Shade of Ash # 42 – The Silence Was Strengthening
A rocking chair and the gap between your stories. I hung in that quiet and on your every last word. Your voice for my heart, your silence for my soul. Then, it was time for tea…
A Shade of Ash # 41 – On-Line Therapy
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have a saying, “Some day on clothes.” It’s a way to describe the weather. A fine day to pin some clothes on the line to dry. It can also be a way to describe how you’re feeling, as explained by the nice man in the video I’ve left for you below. By the way, that YouTube channel has a lot of our culture, history, and gorgeous scenery if you’re interested. Yes, the people of my beautiful island have always emoted using cultural phrases which are associated with everyday experience. When we have a feeling to share, there’s usually a Newfoundland and Labrador way of saying it.
Continue reading “A Shade of Ash # 41 – On-Line Therapy”A Shade of Ash # 40 – Sit Happens
When I walk, the world is at my feet. But if that very same world gives me the chance, I’ll put them up. – Ash
Song Sheets of Summer – Haiku
blades of summer grass
dancing to the tune of life
may I have this dance
Second Thoughts # 6 – I Remember Swimmingly
A white towel around my neck, my curling hair is all wet, and I’m riding my mountain bike down a quiet highway in a standing position. Ah …the way back after a summer’s day swim.
It’s well past seven, almost eight and the sun, like us, is on the way home. I’m chilly now as the sun sets. I have goosebumps and my skin is drying out from living in pond water for the last four hours. My pedal strides are lazy as I slowly catch up to join a zigzag bicycle pattern my friends have already graciously started. We laugh right away bringing up our whole day and explaining to each other like it happened years ago. Drawing out every last second of detail and sodering it unconsciously to our souls. Every one of those day-at-the-pond moments we smiled at again and again. Over and over.
The adrenaline produced from a day like that would fuel the whole trip home for us. No matter how tired we were our along-the-way stunt dares and ten-second races kept us gaining ground without even noticing how close we were getting to home. Then, most times in the middle of a good joke or a story, one by one, each of my buddies would have to start branching off. Going their “rest of the way” alone. Breaking away from the pack usually with a middle-finger gesture, a newly learned curse word, or a bodily function. Sometimes all three. Soon, I too would cross that imaginary line that separated my neighbourhood from the rest of the world. The world of a twelve-year-old Ash. I remember that day swimmingly.
This second thought was brought to you by a walk earlier today on a path less taken. There was something about the atmosphere in the moment I was in and it overwhelmed me and I was there for it. I kicked up a little dirt and it transported me. Summer is indeed in the air and given the last few weeks, I needed this memory. Thanks, universe.
Until…
Me and the End of Summer
Red sky evenings
I remember them
stretched highway at eight o’clock
over the overpass to watch
there is one last summer night coming out to play
my pace quickens to catch up
traffic flies by this one road boy
who is wandering far from what he can recognize
adventure must be the same no matter where you are
until I pass by an old train track that divided two kinds
no friends from either so I move on
you could hear blades of grass keep a cool breeze in check
slowing down seconds for teenagers of the land
to win toys, steal kisses, and lose ice cream
it is impossible to be this alone
with Carnival noises filling the air
but the lights threaten shadows
the stars show up, crowds filter, I am lost
walking forever on the eve of September
heading back to the red road toward home
Earth To Ash 