away for a while...

on vacation in British Columbia tall trees towered waves crashed orcas lurked somewhere in the mist a canoe bobbed on familar waves old memories flooded back like the tide pages turned in new used books kayak paddles flashed in the sunlight fireworks bloomed like summer flowers three white bums streaked on a rocky beach ripe cherries stained fingers sweat poured where rock and roll boomed seals poked curious heads through the silver rolling surface a parade grumbled through the local park hippie girls in tank tops with tattoos rode the little island ferry along with a frightened goat old friends had found property on an estuary artworks hung from cedar trees purple-flowering raspberries burst from the bushes the shopping mall had changed a bit there were line-ups at the border the pot smelled sticky and skunky clams and oysters were fresh and free of red tide along one small stretch of shoreline there was mighty fog on the malahat eagles soared and more eagles soared there were white sails among the islets picnic lunch in horsehoe bay snap peas at the farmer's market organic coffee at the roadside plaza starfish on the beach clouds in the sunset moon through the tent screen family memory friends time and space motion exultatation the great simple lift of the great simple gift of the great simple life lived just for this moment this moment this moment this moment this
it is good to come back when it is good to have gone