Family Viewing Night

Today we went to Modern, to see our Aeden dance.
Then off for a nice dinner as a family did we prance.

Sally

     Sticks & Stones

In a jingle jangled corner
in a cottage on the floor,
lives a tiny troll named Wilson
and his buddy Frank the boar.
Together they make pudding,
and read tales about times passed.
Neither is good looking,
and they often get harassed.
Why is it that they don't care,
about other's opinions?
They hold the secret true and fair,
and honor no Dominions.
They live by their own call and code,
by Nature's rules and laughter.
They hold the key to happiness
that we're all chasing after.

Sally

  To Wit

In the door
to the sign in book.
To the whiteboard
to set up the day.
To the photocopier
to prep the work.
To a meeting
to plan the strategy.
To work through lunch,
sneaking in a bite.
To the stage
to present the material.
To the desk
to answer questions.
To listen,
to solve,
to mediate,
to calm,
to encourage,
to motivate,
to appease,
to understand,
to support,
to clarify,
to repeat,
to repeat,
to repeat...
To conclude,
to tidy the desks.
To organize,
to prepare for tomorrow.
To turn out the lights,
and pray for the energy
to make it home...
With a smile left
for those who
TRULY matter!

Sally

                     Shushy!
Once in a while, I just get tired of asking you to be quiet.
My understanding is that you get carried away.
Goodness knows I still love you!

Sally

 Bloody Mary?

The distinguished
artisan
readies herself
to be
lulled
by the
inner kishkes,
into the
sinister
spine-tingling
tumultuous
world
of the
super natural.

Sally

    Harold High
Sunday afternoon
marking, waiting for Aeden
to finish Improv.

Sally

Condon Kudos

I read
The Twilight Saga
because I was
teaching
Grade 6.
There was a
Twilight frenzy,
and I was
curious to
understand what
my students were
devouring.
I took the books
out of the
Public Library
and
proceeded to read
over 1200 pages
in one weekend.
I was mesmerized
by the simplicity
of the story, and
by the intensity
of the
love.
I have since
read the series
three times through.
Once with my daughter,
and once
on another
weekend
when I was craving
the stark
emotional content.

I took my kids to
the movies
when they made
their appearance
in theatres.
I valued the fact
that each film was
an artistic
expression
by another director.
They were unique,
as the cinematic
interpretation
of a book
often is.

Today,
we went to see
Breaking Dawn Part II
and I was
impressed.
It seems ideal that
the series was
wrapped up by
Mr. Bill Condon.
The film was an
outstanding
representation
of the book.
It gave such closure
and completion
to the tale.
I LOVED IT!
Thank you
Stephanie Meyers
for your wild
and endearing story,
and thank you
to all those involved
in the film-making
phenomenon!
It has been a
truly satisfying
journey.

Sally
 

                                          Paul Please!

Paul McCartney is coming to town.
Passionately adoring of The Beatles, my daughter is dying to attend.
Patiently waiting on seven computers to buy tickets to the show.
Potential is lost when the show sells out in minutes.
Pleased as pie when she discovers that her Dad may have an in.
Percolating with excitement when Dad gets a job as a dishwasher for the crew.
Planning with precision to sneak her in to meet her hero. What a Dad!

Sally

                 Milestones

I saw your Roots & Wings today.
It made me sentimental, and want to stay.

Sally

Please Professor

Anticipation
Pending
Waiting for the
ball to drop.
Afraid to get
excited,
just in case
my bubble's popped.
Deep breathes.
Pilates
Pulling it
together.
Just hoping
my efforts
don't turn to
stormy weather.
So here's to
fate and Dominos,
from Fall monsoons
to full rainbows.
Here's to what
was meant to be.
A future made for me!

Sally

       Magic Bean

Just when I'm grooving...
My Magic Bean gets sick and,
my bottom drops out.

Sally

Jack Pekarsky Was In My Class

Have you seen the latest
Jack Pekarsky Line?

Amazing!

I know!

So unique.

Magical.

He has such vision.

A natural!

Apparently he's been doing it for a while.

Yup!

Excuse me? 
(turning to the newcomer) 

I said Yup!
He's been doing it for a while.
Jack Pekarsky was in my class.
He's been developing his sense of
style since he was 
in elementary school.
It was obvious then
that he was an
artistic genius
in the making!

Wow! True Canadian pride!

I think he's from
Liverpool actually.

Are you sure?

No.
I'm just going
by his accent.

I see.
Alexander McQueen.
John Galliano and
Jack Pekarsky.

Yup.

What a legacy!
And you knew him?

Still do.
He sends me shoes.

Sally

PILES, GLORIOUS PILES!

My friend Aaron Silverman
has a sharp, shiny look.
When he flew south for the winter
he gave me ALL his cook books!

Sally

BEWARE! Civil Servants Letting Down Hair!

I'll never forget,
the AGM of 2006.
Between 7:00am- 9:00pm
Meetings!
A responsibility to
solicit change,
to create order
from chaos.
To uphold the essence
of Democracy.
Between 9:01pm- 6:59am
PARTY!

Phantasy Island
on the 33rd floor.
Cheering
Hollering
and a whole lot of
drinking!
FREE BOOZE
takes 15 minutes
to turn
Donny Osmond
into
Robert Downey Jr.

On the lookout for
another adventure,
we wandered off
in the direction of
The Yale.
Walking
Talking
Giggling
It had suddenly
grown quiet.
When we turned,
we saw FOUR
cop  cars,
and Murray,
in handcuffs.
WHAT HAPPENED???
He had a drink in his hand.
WHAT???
He had a drink in his hand.

Inebriated and
entirely oblivious,
Murray had sauntered
out of The Hyatt
carrying a memento
from
Phantasy Island.
A highball,
Giggle Juice,
Baltic tea...

I suppose it is
illegal,
to carry an open drink...
But FOUR cop cars!!!
Poor Murray!

Thankfully Chris,
with the negotiation
skills of a
tourist in Tijuana,
talked to
The Fuzz.
CIVIL SERVANTS
letting off steam.
Can you blame them?
And so he was
forgiven.

Murray's chaffed
wrists and all,
we continued
down the road,
to close down
The Yale
with our
revelrous
merriment!!!

Sally

 Misplaced Thinking Cap

What's up number ONE?
Why was the door left unlocked?
You kinda' blew it!

Sally

                        Forgive Me!

Today will have to be another couplet day,
as the stuffing escapes me, and my seams start to fray.

Sally

             Get Me Out Of Here!

Stretching, clutching, reaching for a dream.
Hoping I'm lucky, before I just scream!

Sally

                      MEOW

At 7:00 AM, you are always waiting by my door.
By 7:30 you're making a respectable racket.
Carefully opening the door, I step around you as you race down the stairs.
Diligently waiting as I serve up your food.
Every time I see you, I get a tingly sensation that makes me want to hug you!
Falling in love you was inevitable sweet Izzy!

Sally

Here's Hoping

Application done!
Now I wait and hope to see,
opportunity!

Sally

Ever since Garrett died, Remembrance Day has become such a personal time for me. I will never forget him, his death, or any of the Canadians and their families who gave it all up for our country!

This poem is dedicated to Garrett Chidley (March 22nd 1988-December 30th 2009) and his family, for whom my heart ruptures and aches with your loss. He was a great Canadian, and a great student.
May his memory forever be in our souls!

Remember

For Garrett who sacrificed
his life at 21.

Remember (English)

For my mother
who never met her father.

Lizkor (Hebrew)

For Gita Kron who witnessed
her daughter being taken to Auschwitz.

Gud'nq'n (Yiddish)

For my dad who got used to
seeing his friends die by his side.

Wathkur (Arabic)

For John McCrae who left us
the legacy of his poem.

Cofiwch (Welsh)

For the Danes who refused
to be Hitler's canaries.

Husk (Danish)

For the men and boys who sat in
the trenches yearning for their mothers.

Sonje (Haitian Creole)

For the brave women who
stayed at home, keeping the world afloat.

Kumbuka (Swahili)

For the hundreds of thousands
who died in the irrepressible flames.

Oboete iru (Japanese)

For Anne, who let us
walk with her to death.

Herinneren (Dutch)

For the women and girls
who lost their humanity and dignity.

Yadet miyad (Farsi)

For the fathers and brothers stolen

in the non compos mentis cleanse.

Zapamtitti (Croatian)

For those who forfeited 

the joy of ever walking again.

Merken (German)

For those who lived
to suffer their days in horror.

Rappeler (French)

For the sake of those

who gave up everything for PEACE.

LEST WE FORGET!

Sally

Cards Anyone?

While in the kitchen
the other day,
my oldest son asked me
to tell the story of how
his father and I met.

"Well," I said.
"It's quite a funny story
actually."
His father gave me
a concerned look
from the sink.

"It all began when
we took a course
together at the
SFU School for
The Contemporary Arts.
Your dad was the Assistant Director
in a production of Brecht's,
The Measures Taken."

"I was getting in all
sorts of trouble for
incorrectly saying,
'With loud and
resounding voices.'"

"Your dad was asked
to stand in front of me,
with his back to
the director,
and listen to me
practice the line
again and again,
until I got it right."

My son looked from
me to his father.
"And?" he inquired.

"Well, your dad started
to laugh, and I got
in even more trouble!"
His dad chuckled as
he loaded the dishwasher.

"We ended up taking the
bus home together one day.
We were having a great
conversation when,
your dad suddenly
jumped up
and ran off
the bus,
saying that he had
to go."

"I totally checked
my pits,
and sniffed my breath,
completely baffled
by his sudden
disappearance."

"What happened dad?"
"I, uh..." Chris stammered.
"He had to pee." I cut in.
"He told me the next day
on the phone."
I proceeded.

"We started dating.
He kept taking me to this
place called
A Slice of Gourmet.
But he was slow
to make the moves."

"Hey, hey!!! I think you
should stop there."
His dad said adamantly
from inside the
fridge.

"What do you mean?
This is the best part!"
I plowed forth.

"One day,
when your father
dropped me off,
I asked if he wanted
to come over
after work."

"Your dad reminded me
that he worked until
midnight.
So I said..."

"Woa, woa woa,"
Chris interjected.
"You can't tell him this!"
"Why not?" I persisted.
"He's old enough
to handle the truth."
I continued.

"I asked him if
he wanted to come over,
and stay over.
And he did."

"And?" asked Dez
with a glowing smirk
on his face.

"We played cards.
Twice!"
I retorted.

And the three of us
laughed until we
burst!

Sally

Santa Lives on 12th and Fraser

In July
he sits crouching
by the trees that
line the road.
Smoking
Hacking
His beard splayed
across his face.
Off white,
with a yellow haze
reflecting his habit.
Like a misguided
star
he wanders
up and down the road,
waiting for his
moment to shine.
Just after
Halloween
he comes
ALIVE.
He's visible
from blocks
away.
Like a cherry
nestled in a
swirl of soft-serve.
Santa
walking down 12th Avenue.
Red shirt,
red hat,
and the beard
that seems more
white
when framed around
his broad clear
smile
and glowing teeth.
Relishing in his role,
his moment in the spotlight.
Waving at cars
with a deep
"Ho Ho Ho"
Making symphony
with the
Honk
Zip
Vroom
In his glory
until the New Year
when he
retreats back into
his morbid
shell.
Hoping to survive
the next
ten months
with nothing but
a cigarette to
forge his
identity.

Sally

              Goal Setting Meetings

My strategy for meeting with parents today
was to cough, wheeze and sputter until they all ran away!

Sally

A Weekday Tanka...

       Seriously?

There are times I think
that you're a mammoth baby.
You need to grow up!
To learn to practice manners,
and responsibility.

Sally

                       Blah!        

                      Stuffy
                Nasty feeling
       Blocked up and congested
Soup, hot tea,warm baths and honey.
         Season One of Stargate
            G-d Bless Netflix
                 Cured soon!

                       Sally

Hate is a Very Strong Word    

Select with caution
the words that you want to say.
Like in The Giver.

Sally

Today is my dear friend Matthew's birthday. Here is an acrostic for him.

                                        Movie Maker

Matthew Oliver, you are a delightful and important friend to me.
Always kind, and reaching out to help.
Talented beyond belief.
Taught me so much over the years.
Having you as an artistic collaborator has changed me in so many ways.
Every interaction is positive, creative and fun.
What a dreadful existence it would be with out you! Happy B-day Friend!

Sally

BEST Saturday Night
          EVER!!!

The Corner Store called.
The DVD has returned.
Dark Shadows tonight!

Sally

                      Hallelujah!

Hallelujah it's Friday, my body can't wait to

Have a nice bath, and go on a date, phew!

Heaven sent weekends are just what I need,

However you look at it, a blessing indeed.

Happy to drive to Capoeira and dance class,

Having a gas as time flies by too fast.

Hopefully ready for another week to pass!

Sally

It's official!
    I am attempting to write 365 poems in a year. I'm saying it here to solidify my commitment, and confirm my insanity! All Hail Poetic Rehab!!!!

    I've Said It

I have been writing
a poem a day for months
I'll try for a year

Sally