growing up, autumn was a season of flaming maples…the area where I live now is populated by conifers so change shows up differently . . . in rusty grasses, late wildflowers, low angles of light. As winter draws close, colour and sound soften to a hush.
autumn sky
a wash of blue berries
on the juniper
©️2021 Ontheland
2021: another Election Day in Canada. Will a centre-left government return or will any hope of swerving from the precipices before us sizzle in conservative capitalism?
Election Day
the hours before
tomorrow
.
.
©️2021 Ontheland
I notice the scalloped leaf edges, how each leaf attaches to the base of a flower stem. I see a royal lady’s collar and remember a name: ‘Lady’s Mantle’.
border plant
imagining a story
for her name
I later read that a ‘mantle’ is not a collar, but a sleeveless cloak. The name Lady’s Mantle was inspired by the leaves. It refers to their resemblance to a scalloped cloak shown in images of the Virgin Mary.
lady’s mantle
her royal collar holds
a cluster of stars
©️2021 Ontheland
the news is a cacophony of stress … more COVID variants, more positive tests, more deaths, talk of ICU triage guidelines, and the vaccine rollout slowing to a trickle. What can I say? What can I do?
deep snow
on the deck and
it’s still snowing
But who wants to read gloomy observations? Most of us are wanting to be soothed, to forget.
darning
blue mittens
the colour of spring
©️2021 Ontheland
Another day at home for the two of us and the dogs. The wind knocks over a shovel on the porch and 55 pound Diesel barrels across the floor barking urgently. The other two dogs chime in, their madness continuing as snow blows its quiet storm.
.
.
playing scrabble
from opposite ends of the room
on smart phones
.
.
©️2021 Ontheland
As another grey day winds down, I hide in a new writing corner. This is my first, and hopefully, last pandemic winter. Last year, the infamous 2020, covid 19 may have been lurking in January, but no whistle had been blown. It wasn’t until mid-March on the cusp of spring that the World Health Organization declared a world pandemic.
Cold, damp, and dry, winter is our flu season, the time people typically get colds and flu so it is no surprise that COVID numbers are skyrocketing. I have been staying home but as of today it’s mandatory in Ontario…the pressure on society and the suffering of many is palpable, my salvation being gratitude for food, shelter, a home and so far, good health.
COVID winter
in the deep freeze dreaming
a Pfizer jab
.
.
©️2021 Ontheland
The other day I was towelling off after a shower when I noticed a shape at the window. I lifted the curtain and there before me was a white hen. She had clearly wandered from someone’s coop. With a gaze, both casual and intense, she pecked at the glass as if she wanted to come in. Though unsuccessful in finding her owner, we found a family willing to add her to their flock.
.
.
winter night
I wonder about
the visiting hen
.
.
©️2021 Ontheland
Last night, December 21, 2020, was the night of a rare astronomical event. Some were calling it the ‘Christmas Star’ or ‘Solstice Star’ but neither description is quite right as the ‘Great Conjunction’ refers to the alignment of two planets, Jupiter and Saturn. They were to be bright lights in the southwestern sky near the moon. One writeup compared their brightness to the star followed by the three Wise Men thousands of years ago.
.
my winter solstice . . .
moon and stars
cloaked by clouds
.
Though not a surprise after a day of rain, it was a disappointment. Today the sun has returned. Perhaps I will see Saturn and Jupiter tonight.
©️2020 Ontheland
This morning I say hello to the moon and dance to “An Oscar Peterson Christmas”.
jazz
between the lines
of an ear worm
.
.
https://youtu.be/Rt-NLayvUvA
(tip: listen past the song for the improv)
©️2020 Ontheland
With coffers emptied and promises broken we find ourselves unprepared for another virus surge. We may not be able to afford a sharp lockdown but what will it cost us to stay open?
November blues
cracked earth
from summer drought
.
.
©️2020 Ontheland
Ontheland 