Blessings of Spring

California poppies
Pop, orange bright,
Into my view
To my glee and delight;
Sunshine sparkles
On the kayakers' path;
Songbirds flit about excitedly
Causing me to laugh;
Spring has
Most assuredly arrived;
On a day like this
Who wouldn't feel
Blessed to be alive
-----
2012

Sanctuary

Cedars and sequoias
Line the walls of her cathedral
From the lotus, she leafs through
Parchments of elderberry on birch
She becomes sage
Through this communion
Having drunken fully
From this earthy bouquet
She rises and sings
As a chorus of fiddleheads
Follow her home
-----
2009

May Day

May Day! May Day!
The golden trumpets blare
Spring's arrived  in all her glory
Blooming everywhere

Daffodils and tulips
Grace the promenade
Displaying finest finery
To praise of oohs and aahs

Revelling in sunshine
Butterflies abound
Robins' trills return -
Springtime's sweetest sound

Breezes blow their warming winds
Through magnolia trees
Lilac bushes come to life
Cherry blossoms please

The beauty and the fragrances
Of spring, invigorates
May Day! May Day!
It's time to celebrate
-----
2009

Dear Mother

Mother,
You have always held me
Ever since I breathed
Your rosy scent
There in your fruitful garden
Where peaceful days
Were spent;
You led me to the ocean
And taught me to explore
Your beauty
Surrounding me,
Constant as
The ebbing shore;
Pussy willows
You gave to me,
Delighting me
With child-like mirth;
I applaud you
For all these gifts
Dear Mother Earth
-----
2008

Narcissus

The sun has lit
Upon my slender form
As I trumpet spring's arrival
With my ruffled horn

Lovers swoon beside me,
My brilliant golden hue
And pluck me from the earth
Whispering, "I love you"

Oh, what joy I bring
The poets that I thrill
Immortalized by Wordsworth
Delightful daffodil
---
2008

Magical May

Dollops of buttercups
Flavour the ground,
Mid-morning dew disappears;
The rocks cry out
With wild-flower abandon;
Perfumed petals proclaim
The return of the Spring

Forget-me-nots
To daisies, aspire
Ever reaching higher,
The cedars ascend
Sending down
Their mystical scent;
Whippoorwills sing
While butterflies dance

Down the lane,
Alice stumbles
Rhododendrons
Tower above;
Around the bend
The willow dangles
Her fingertips
Into the stream;
Jewels of sunlight
Are just out of reach

Loitering geese feast
In this scene
Till they trumpet and fly
To the gaggle
Down by the lagoon;
A dragonfly hovers,
Then it's gone
Like this snapshot of Heaven,
It's all gone too soon
---
Written in May 2006 mostly in Hatley Gardens at Royal Roads.

Dollops of buttercups flavour the ground
Robins return with their cheery cheerful sound
The sunset's delaying now midway through May
For leisurely walks at the end of the day
It's time to take notice of all this good nature
Inhaling lilacs, let your spirit be nurtured
---
Written in May 2010 because of the love for the first line in the previous poem.

Welcome to Canada

With a glowing heart, patriotic pride

I saw them rise, some people, strong and free
From far and wide, my Canada,

They stood in praise of thee

A young Indian woman

In her new-found home

Feels safe, is safe

While travelling alone

An Iranian woman

Who is finally free

To feel her long hair

Blown by a breeze

A grateful woman from China

Pursues education as the answer

So she can give back,

Hopes to eradicate cancer

An Egyptian man

Concerned for the shade of his skin

Found it wasn't an issue -

He easily fit in

A Venezuelan man

Who sadly said farewell

To family, friends, a job

Is faring very well

A Mexican family

Finding a new home

With opportunities

In our land of hope

A Belgian man,

World traveller and wise

Said with certainty,

“This is paradise”

This is Canada,

A welcoming nation rich with diversity

Where nationalities, cultures, customs

Are part of our identity

God keep our land

Glorious and free

To expand and blossom
From sea to sea to sea

---
March 16, 2016 
Written after my husband's Canadian citizenship ceremony.