otherpoems

Prologue

Every once in a while

in each of our if-lucky lives

a day comes along

that tempts us with

unusual charm and delight

leading us astray

away from temporal,

nose-to-grindstone

shoulder-to-wheel

busy-bee mundane pursuits

towards more earthly fruits

nudging conscience aside

leading us to unexpected indulgence

serendipitously
nourishing
our
soul.

(Daniel age 3 in 2011 then 4 in 2012,

and ’twampa Lance age 59 and 60

had just such days over-nighting in Victoria)

...

Off We Go

Bike panniers packed in back

Daniel Jordan Gerard Grant

stands in bike seat
right up front

and shouts,
“Bye mom! I love you!”

Off we zoom downhill

on a crisp September morn

to wait on River Road

for Ladner 640 bus

to Tsawwassen ferry loop link.

Onboard brunch breakfast done

Daniel eagerly explores

the ship, from stem to stern

in and out, ’round about

settling amid sun-drenched deck

to play with three toy cars.

’Cross Salish Sea we sail

Galiano to the North

Mayne Island South

through Active Pass we go

as Orcas breach below.

Skirt past Parliament

round James Bay point

to Beacon Hill Park zoo;

caress, kiss, frolic,

chase and romp with

peppy pigmy goats,

like mini bull-run

chaos in Spain’s

Pamplona streets.

Playground next awaits,

a quick climb swing and slide

then back to town we ride.

Tuckered, tired head

soon rests on weary arms

laid on handle-bars,

on quiet slow ride back.

Wahoo the pool!

Refreshing, cool!

Sunshine a jewel

on swimming ‘school’.

White Spot Pirate Pack awaits

next door to hotel home

then off we ride

again to town

to catch the waning sun

and walk the evening

harbour side.

Painters and Native carvers

capture Daniel’s eye

and ’twampa’s attention too.

We spend dusk hours

at playground tower

with a playmate or two.

Quick snack, bath, to bed

Daniel sleeps as soon

as pillow hits his head.

Next morn’ we’re up

soon McMuffin stuffed

and on to Chinatown.

Daniel climbs the Dragon Gate,

skips Fan Tan alley through,

to Market Square

where on the stage .

he whirls a jig or two -

then takes a final bow.

Exploring Emily Carr’s old house

Daniel spots a cat,

forget some famous artist’s place

he’s just a kid in fact,

and a cat’s a cat so in a flash

his visit’s all’bout that.

Back we go

to petting zoo

goat-run run

reprise to see.

Last night in Vic

swim at Inn,

dinner within

harbour playground again

bath, snack, TV;

but all too soon

’twampa hears Daniel’s ZZZ!

Up early last day, breakfast done

’cross counter-balanced

sky blue Johnson Bridge,

’long West-side Gorge we ride.

Curious Daniel says

“Stop! let’s look!”,

’twampa’s happy to oblige.

Daniel runs down gangplank ramp

lays swiftly down on dock

“ ‘Quickely’! come here ’twampa…

see some little fishes ’twampa”.

Then up we go, and onward ho

wooden bump bump bump

’cross Galloping Goose Trail bridge.

Daniel stands up

as we ride up over hump

and “Wahoooos!” until the end.

Along urban path,

we head up and away

from quiet Gorge below.

Off we crawl

’cross traffic now

and past the Mayfair Mall.

Topaz Park is our next stop

to swing and climb and slide

after pondering great huge oaks.

On along we head up Quadra

towards the Crystal Pool, where

Daniel goes into dolphin mode.

A nice picnic lunch

’fore catching the bus

back to the ferry dock.

Tired and tuckered

but not down and out

Daniel plays quietly on deck with toys.

A nice detour through

Ladner town

to share Gorgona dinner.

Chicken Souvlaki for two

Ginger ale for ‘you’

A beer for me, we’re through.

Then off we spin

to Ladner loop

and 640 bus back home.

Up Millar Road

’twampa walks the bike

with Daniel asleep up front.

The trip is done

quite some fun,

now YouTube posting see.

A Words Are Fun poem

for Daniel JG Grant

from a grateful

’twampa Rifke Lance

2014,05,13