Who could be sad for one so young and fair,
Immortal as a god, who gave his life
With never a backward glance?
Ah.. . not irreverent this,
When bagpipes skirl in Heaven!
Howd'Ya Do!
When we were very small children
In kindergarten
We used to play a game.
It was called "Howd'ya do, my Partner".
And you bowed, each to the other,
And clasped hands,
And solemnly went round in a circle
Which ended with a triumphant, rollicking skip!
It's the strangest thing —
Looking back from so many years
I can still remember distinctly
That the only little boy I'd skip with
Had eyes exactly like yours!
I can remember stamping my foot
And being unspeakably difficult
When the teacher tried to persuade me
That another little boy would do.
That's one of the most important features
Of that particular game —
Another little boy won't do!
Big Bay
This is fall
So I moust remember Big Bay
And the nets drying on the dock
And the birches stripped for winter
And wine in the sun!
There were scarlet berries
Maybe they were bittersweet,
And all the ferns
Were tobacco-coloured.
Some places you long for
With a physical longing.
It is like that with Big Bay,
Now… in October!