
Killarney, Ontario
land of 250,000 waterways, interconnected
living waterways pulsing, like blood in human veins
at times ice or steam
telling of ancient stories

French River, Ontario
listen to the wind, unfettered
ranting, swirling, blowing
from the Arctic tundra to the arable south
saying to the leaves “get off the trees
cover the ground”

Timmins, Ontario
relatives will be arriving
snowflakes, hail, icicles
reminding one and all
this earth is diverse

Vermillion River, Ontario
remember the lily of the forest
the trillium, precious as an orchid
remember the sweetness of maple sap
it will flow again

Nina Munteanu photographing the Upper Credit River
people appear like blades of grass
needing the waters of life
this land is yours, care for her
Honey Novick
This poem was first published in Verse Afire January, 2018 I.S.S.N. 1715-0280 (publication of the Ontario Poetry Society)