The
POET TREE
Events
A fun time was had by all at BVR’s first annual Alberta Birthday/Speed Poetry Contest.
Approximately forty people attended the event on a beautiful, late summer evening. Attendees listened to music by The Alberta History Wrangler, Rob Lennard, and a cowboy poem was read by Bow Valley Ranche’s poet laureate, Mary V.
First place in the individual competition was awarded to Kathleen Moors for her poem, Not an Ode to Adelaide. This poem was written in honour of Metis Adelaide Belcourt, married to European settler John Glenn, and one of the first women to settle in the Fish Creek area.
Second place in the individual category went to Josephine LoRe.
Third place to Cameron Dizak.
Thank you to Meghan Jones and June Read for helping to judge both categories of the poetry.
Not an Ode to Adelaide
That winter was bitter.
She pressed her body hard against the unforgiving wind.
She felt her eyelashes turn to crystals
transforming the dark evergreens, still
visible in the distant horizon,
into unknown figures,
in some ways foreboding
and in other ways comforting.
They grounded her to the crust of fresh snow
instead of driving her
into the bluster of ice, piercing her cheeks
like a hundred pin pricks.
Back at home John would be sitting
by the warm fire,
welcome respite from his hours
guiding the cattle to shelter.
He arrived as she pulled the rough woolen shawl
tight around her shoulders.
Stooping into the blast,
Adelaide looked up for a brief moment
and made out a soft light in the dark.
Clenching two melted hands to her mouth
breath dampened the earthy wool
and she pushed forward
imagining that very soon she would guide
a frightened mother
into an incredible moment.
And a baby would cry in surprise.
In the Family/Group competition the judges were impressed with the calibre of poetry written in the twenty minutes allotted!
Honourable mention was given to Bison, written by Wyatt McInnis with help from Kennedy, and Campfire, by Cheryl Posten, Kathy Posten, Ken Henke and Susan Henke. The judges were also impressed with poems written about Edmonton Grads, Senator Patrick Burns, Cowboys and Chief ‘Bull Head’ Chiila.
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There was also a haiku and a limerick submitted. We’re sad we weren’t able to give prizes to every participant!
Third place in the group category was awarded to Annae Franco and Avra Miron. There was a tie awarded for first given to the Franco family and Amber, Immie and Wendy.
A Coyote Howl
by the Franco family
Peering through grasses
I cry eerily, hauntingly.
See me inconspicuous against
the wind-beaten plain.
Echoing, my voice reaches out
into the wind,
and shudders into silence.
Campfires
by Amber, Immie, Wendy
The chill is in the air
My shoulders nee to warm
I bend down to pick up kindling
But I’m missing something
I go looking for matches
Through my camp bag
My hand grasps a box
To my surprise
Something moves in the box
I open it a crack
A little nose peeps out
Before I know it
Out jumps a creature
I chase it out of curiosity
I corner it
I move in closer
What do I find?
Not the creature, but matches
To make a campfire!!
Photo Credit: Neil Murray
About Mary V
Mary Vlooswyk • Calgary, AB
Mary is a poet who writes to reach unseen details, searching for the mysteries held beneath what the eye first sees. She is an emerging writer who was shortlisted for Quattro Books inaugural "Best New Poet in Canada" in 2018, and she placed third in a Canada 150 contest. Her writing has been published in Canada, the US, Wales, Japan and China in magazines such as Asahi Shimbun, Mothers Always Write, FreeFall, GUSTS, Moonbathing, Wales Haiku, and Wild Musette, as well as a number of anthologies. She is a contributing editor for Arc Poetry Magazine.
Bow Valley Ranche’s poet laureate, Mary V. launched her first book of poetry, On the Prairie Fringe. Thanks goes to Larry Wasyliw and The Historical Bow Valley Ranche Society for making this become a reality.
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Author of Big Blue Sky Haiku and Reflection, Mary Vlooswyk’s collection of finely tuned haibun (a Japanese literary form that marries prose and haiku) reminds us again and again of the power of nature to heal, to provide pleasure, and wonder. As Vlooswyk says “owls… unhook me from my busy day.” Complimentary artwork only adds to the delight; sometimes, we are just all “waiting for a world/ that is never spoken.” Highly recommended.
Terry Ann Carter
author of Tokaido (Red Moon Press, 2017) Touchstone Distinguished Book Award past president of Haiku Canada
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Mary Vlooswyk enters Fish Creek Park as in a sanctuary keenly respectful of all its sights and sounds. Travelling with her is sharing in this experience.
Lucille Raizada
Haiku and Tanka Poet
BUY THE BOOK
For anyone interested in purchasing a copy of On the Prairie Fringe, (Only $10.00) a lovely illustrated poetry book that explores Fish Creek Park, please contact Mary at: bvrpoet@gmail.com for more information.
Cowboy City Girl
I’m a city girl now
with black patent shoes
instead of dusty and worn
old cowboy boots
I smother a drawl
that sneaks into my speech
when least expected
it gives away my roots.
I eat sorbet from crystal
and drink water with bubbles
I really don’t want
to cause any trouble
but when skies grow dark
and stars pop out
my heart is left
without any doubt
that in a saddle
wandering wild and free
on the back of a bronc
is where I ought to be.
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Mary Vlooswyk’s On the Prairie Fringe combines poetry, prose and illustrations to tell many fascinating stories about Fish Creek Park. Park preservation for future generations is also highlighted. It’s a must read for nature and poetry lovers.
Joanne Morcom
PoetTree
Garden
In The Park
pay attention
to this wild garden
where words fall like leaves
from trees
renew our bodies
cleanse
yesterday's unfinished to-do list
quiet tomorrow's worries
(excerpt from In The Park written by Mary)
