the ocean

here everyone takes it for granted.
but i know, the great huge pacific
lurks behind the pretty houses and the good restaurants and 
yes,
even this university,
the ocean
where sea serpents and huge weird swimming things
can spring up
arc through the air
and yep, disappear into a dream.
i have only seen glimpses
except the window looks from the plane
dense, fecund, dark and so
beautiful.
maybe i will have 
the least little chance
to put my toes into
the cold salty richness.
~~~
first there was the country's center
where i took no pictures
then montana
or so says my iphoto




 and then the great blue thing
 no mistaking it for lake country

 i have a tiny dorm room
overlooking a parking lot
 i have two dear ones
now in the flesh
persons made real after being etherial 
dear jean and bryan
 and a bombing 
(yarn)
that took place in the student union.
the university of victoria
in the not so but still far away.
where i have the privilege to teach shifu
to amazing and talented students.

preparations, thinking and doing

nourishing terrains has captured my imagination
and i parallel it with braiding sweetgrass
and i unearthed this book while packing and prepping.
i imagine there may still be places where you can see paintings
that look to me like dreamings
having grown up near the great lakes
instead of my family's west virginia mountains
i feel a connection
ochre.
and now i remember climbing around in the red shale
of the niagara river gorge.

there's even a checkerboard
and a map
oh, love this one rich with imagery
and yet these are drawings of originals
i'm getting tidy here
almost
really
outside robin takes advantage
of a big driveway puddle




and this, this is a photo 
of the rock surface
taken 60 years ago
how lichen is changing the dream.
 this dream 
  my boat here is a pasture.
 where grows poor (wo)man's asparagus
that i didn't harvest
because it's needed by other ones soon.
 and on my morning walk i passed three
barefoot amish boys 
stairstep sized, on their way
perhaps
to sunday church.
my church will be instead
the songbirds
finishing the packing
thinking of the words and love of friends
and family and my love,
as i prepare to rise tomorrow morning
at three or so
to meet the plane in ottawa
for victoria.