Lovely Algonquin

 


Two weeks before tragic season

We were up in Huntsville.

Short hop to Algonquin Park.

Like two birds together.

Free and singing.

Huge map unfolded

But barely as

Hilary navigated.


Split rail fences

And wild purple astors.

Goldenrod, lots of that

Sneezy beast.

Ubiquitous split wood piles

Aging cottages

Porches needing painting.

Shingles missing from

Many tops.


Tomorrow and tomorrow

Say the owners.

Too busy renting to

Toronto skeedaddlers

Lusting for some change

In green and blue.

The jays claiming

Their authority as boss.

To city greenhorns.


I did not know that

My wife had been 

Without critical meds for weeks

Voluntarily went off.

Saw no iceburg, telling

Of depths of trouble beneath.

Diabetes, high BP, low thyroid 

Mental illness.

The crash in body chemistry

Was very close.

And Grand River Hospital, Kitchener.

With warning lights flashing.





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