Time

 

    Again, speeding in a vehicle down one of the roads between the houses we see a coyote. It stands on the edge of the pavement looking to cross. It is the sort that live in the city; a bit brown and rugged from the German shepherd breeds it is mixed with. But, the vehicle does not slow down to wait for it to make the decision of where to go next. 

    It is early morning. The sun had not risen over the horizon. The car parks somewhere outside the hospital in a deserted industrial space. A woman is looking for an entrance to the building, an escalator and room to rest. Inmates, from a prison lose sight of their rehabilitation and begin to brawl. There is no escape in the dank of prison walls and unbreakable glass windows. The guards begin to chase the assailants and rioters. They themselves are looking for an exit. 

    The car speeds down the roads towards the intersection past the coyote. “Remember, how we decorated our home?” The woman says to the passenger. “Yes,’ the girl answers. And, she can see interiors of luxury items inside a show room. “Remember, my bedroom, the large bed and the wide windows?”  The girl nods “yes”. But, what does this have to do with the psychiatric hospital? What does memories of the past have to do with now? The girl remembers the guards running for the doors. She remembers batons and screaming. She remembers standing there like she were invisible. She can see the coyote and wonders if the driver can see it? Is it real? Everyone is still asleep and its predator eyes gaze straight ahead into the night. How long had she been hallucinating? There are coyotes in the woods near her home but, they rarely wander out into the city streets. 

    The woman gets out of the car. A church is holding a ceremony for university students returning to school. The crowds gather outside blocking the entrance to the hospital. In the morning when the sun shines all will be gone. The coyote will go back to its den, the rioters will be subdued and the hallucinations will stop with proper psychiatric medication.​

​​​

Spirits and Flowers:

Lost Highway

 

It was a long narrow road. With, the days precipitation rising from the

earth. You, could feel the ocean breeze from somewhere far away. The car

is speeding (driving really fast as if something is chasing them). They

suddenly veer-turn to the right and into the woods. Drive, down a forested

area until, they come to the edge of the cliff. The ocean waves crash below

and the cold water waves splash into the air against the rock.

They had been driving so fast they are lucky they did not go over the

edge. Stalled, to a stop they sit in the vehicle and watch out the windows.

“This place is haunted,” the man says.

The girl responds “how do you know?”

“I can feel it,” the man answers.

The wilderness around them enveloped by a blue pearlescent fog. The

thick evergreens still as water in the evening. They look around more

(afraid, to make any sudden moves; afraid to get out of the car and leave

on foot). Like, prey animals they sit in silence for a moment.

The woman suddenly says to the man, “I want to get out. I want to

look around. Maybe, there is someone here who can help us?”

And, she opens the car door; puts her foot on the ground and gets out.

Everything, feels like it is suspended in the air. Even though, the waves

crash against the cliffs they, make no sound. There is no wind blowing.

There is no howling or voices from behind the stillness. The planet

suddenly stops turning on its axis. Fortunately, they are on the warm side

of it. The side that faces the sun half the year. But, that distant star is

hidden behind clouds and fog on the horizon. Somewhere, far away where

it never sets.The man and the woman begin to walk around. Not, far from them

they can see a Father and a child. A memory, from long ago. Long, before

the accident. They can see them in broad daylight. A flash of light and blue

sky. But, then the image fades and as they get closer she can see the

child. Alone, and standing on a vine; a piece of wood sticking out of the

mud (thin like willow branches). The child is barefoot and swaying over a

large puddle. The backdrop of woodland fading in the evening. As,

darkness sets in.

The man runs back to his car knowing what it is. An evil spirit? A lost

soul? A ghost. He yells at the woman to come over; to get in the car.

Afraid, he too disappears. Now, the woman looks back to where he stood.

The vehicle sits stranded on the rock where it came to a halt.

She, quietly approaches the child and asks, “where is your Father?’

The memory of the two of them flashes before her eyes.

“He’s dead.” The child replies and disappears.

​

Carnival

Searching for documents

And personal belongings-

I find photographs in the

Cupboard-

A woman with black hair

Cleopatra

A purple dress

In a carnival

Large photographs of a model

• I look at this

I take my belongings

Scattered all over the room

A pair of earrings

Clothes

It is time to leave childhood

Behind me

​

​

Baby Elephant

 

From far away I can 

See something coming down 

From the sky-

A dinosaur

 

A baby Elephant runs

Into my arms-

Its elephant keepers come after

It-

But, I hold it close like a 

Little child-

 

It is a clear blue African sky

-white clouds

Its cool blue grey skin against mine

 

The keeper disappears

And I am waiting to pay for

A dress-

 

I remember my ancestors

I remember where they lived

On Lakeshore

 

    I am related to my neighbours

A man comes and I ask him about the Elephant 

Keepers

He takes the baby from me

​

Thorns

​

Growing 

From out of the earth-

Soil and dirt.

The most beautiful 

Spring branches

My hands dig

-claw

At its thorny roses

Bare 

Brown

Smooth

I am called away 

-to. Search for orchids

Medicinal plants

Gather as many twigs and leaves as I can

And throw the greenery inside a plastic bag

 

In winter nothing grows

Snow falls soaking the ground

But, for now devil horns rise from beneath the surface

​

D.o

A blue object 

With a yellow tip

-snow covered

 

It was my Mothers 

Just laying there

On the counter top

-pistol

 

The snow melts but, it can’t melt

​

Butternut Squash Soup

 

In front of me

There is a table

Of food

-I am walking toward

 

The man I am with

Does not want to share

And grabs the last piece 

Of bread

-from out of my reach

 

Butternut Squash Soup

The dinner is over

There is only leftovers

Placed in a cross

​​

Wagon

The wagon pulls

Hands grip

Red dress

Buttock

Long legs

Heart beat

The man pulls the donkey faster

A flash of blood-

We stop

Step out

Forget

When I am looking I find a hand garter

In the cupboard

​

When I look 

Around 

The corner of the house

I can see children-

Walking away

A stray puppy follows them

I can see fields

And rolling hills

Winter has ended

The puppy scrambles after them

Clumsy

Lost

Looking 

For an owner

Another wolf breed

Follows