(i)
Across the water
I see a canoe
travelling onward
skimming the waves
it is mine to fill
with the ones I love
my children, their children
we paddle together
present, content
it helps me make sense
of the distance between us
.
(ii)
Walking in a gallery
on a trip to Tofino
we bathe in the imagery
take imaginary journeys
and my grandson
chooses a card to
carry home across the sea
to frame and remember
this family togetherness
~ it is a canoe
filled with ancestors
.
By Carys Owen
It came in
a white van
overnight delivery
.
I set up my webcam
check my smile
settle my mind
clear my throat
and hit record
.
‘Good morning
followers, the
latest version
has arrived at
my doorstep!
I’m so excited
to unbox it
with youɉ۪
.
I slide the
box-cutter through
packing tape
unfold the flaps
and start peeling
back layers of
bubble-wrap
.
‘Ah…here it is
…nestled in its own
custom container,
shiny and new
…it looks even
better than
the last iteration-
.
2023 is here!
.
Glowing with potential
sleek and streamlined
promises of possibilities
the label reads:
,
“ Every second
a moment to be,
a chance to exist,
to put down roots
or fly away “
.
Please like or
share my video
and click on
the link below
to review this
newly released
Limited Edition
2023 ’
.
happynewyear.com
.
by Carys Owen
Today it snowed
layer upon layer
hour upon hour
so I stayed home
let the flakes
do their thing
dancing on air
as they are wont to do
.
I sank into
the luxury
of slow
wrapped in the
silence only
snow brings
.
My day passed
like a good dream
soft edges
and feelings of ease
.
As afternoon waned
the phone chirped
to tell me
that my neighbours
were heading to town
in their SUV
and did I need anything?
It’s the kind of offer
I’d make to them
a circular kindness
we care to share
.
The glow of this
spontaneous gift
lasted into the evening
a final piece to
complete my day
.
Happy on my own
and even happier
to be thought of
.
By Carys Owen
.
Bear tracks
fresh and clear
like cookie crumbs
on the forest floor
we know he is there
so we call to him
let him know we are here
sharing his evening air
.
We never see him
but we sense his ambling gait
we never smell him
but conjure up the muskiness
we never hear him
but his snorts skirt our thoughts
.
We fall into calmness
imagining his quest
for secrecy and berries
among the trees and ferns
wearing the evening
like a cloak
.
By Carys Owen
.
Footnote– I read this poem at a poetry
evening on Monday then on
Tuesday morning I saw a bear cross
the road just ahead of me- the
only one I’ve seen this year.
Did he/she hear me?
Frog came visiting
croaked her wisdom
reminders of
beauty and freedom
.
sang a song
of becoming
taking on a new form
perfect and delicate
.
told a tale
green and gold
of rainy days
and hidden pools
of sunshine
warming tired skin
.
of knowing
how to begin again
.
Frog came visiting
.
By Carys Owen
.
.
Whatever we do
let’s do something
let’s not be the ones
who do nothing
though things may
be wrapped in darkness
and sheep’s clothing
let’s keep looking
let’s keep finding
feeling with our hands
listening for the hidden
revealing the mystery
moving intuitively
and doing whatever something
comes to mind, body, heart
perhaps a movement
maybe a sound
possibly a work of art
refusing to let
darkness win the day
refusing to lay down
and do nothing
.
Let’s put them all together
our offerings of something
and hold them as
a shield and a banner
to overcome
whatever lies ahead
.
By Carys Owen
At first, I thought it was like this:
But soon I realised it’s more like this:
In solidarity with the people of Ukraine. And keeping the people of Yemen, Syria and all other war torn nations front of mind. Carys Owen
.
Today all I hear is
‘If you’re not with us
you’re against us’
but where is the love?
where is the humanity?
the kindness
the Human-kindness?
that ties
and unites us
with the momentum
to move us beyond
disagreements and
difference
.
Having thus far survived
the great pandemic
of our times
why are we so bent
on being right
that we won’t listen
to each other
hear each other
and enact our
mighty
Super Power
of Love?
.
By Carys Owen
‘Heart Song’ (Block Print) by Carys Owen
.
Hey Tree
will you dance
with me ?
reveal your story
of how you grew
in this round about
mysterious way
made of folds
and pleats
wrapped like
ribbons of time
around thin air
holding great energy
in stillness
.
.
Hey Tree
it’s easy to believe
you once danced
on these cliffs
mirroring waves
~ ripples and curves
taking the shape
of a body
and mind ~
grain-like muscles
and outstretched limbs
moving gracefully
through space
and time
.
.
Hey Tree
will you dance with me?
sing your name
above the surf
a reminder that
this is enough
this moment
this aeon
as the ocean booms
I trace your bark
full of years
etched with stories
and we spin
into the blue
.
.
Hey Tree
how does it feel
to be anchored in place
witnessing tides
listening to whales
blown by the wind
as you grow
careful and slow
sequestering carbon
harbouring energy?
.
~ are you saving it
for a rainy day
for one final
emphatic display?
or a time when it feels safe
to be yourself again?
move with the rhythms
of the Earth again
let loose your roots
cast your spell
with a shake of leaves
and choreograph
your own
harmonious dance
of life
.
By Carys Owen
.
Tree- Ucluelet BC (Photos by Carys Owen)
.
They told me
don’t be thin skinned
you need to toughen up
not take things to heart
.
But how will the feelings
get out
or in?
.
How will I know
I’m alive
be myself
love completely
show compassion
empathize?
.
It sounds like the advice
of a frightened soul
or someone who’s been told
that emotions are enemies
to be contained
or shunned
to save the energy
of burden sharing
of gathering someone in
of maybe feeling things
~I mean really feeling things~
for the first time
.
They told me
don’t be thin skinned
you need to toughen up
not take things to heart
.
But how will the feelings
get out
or in?
.
By Carys Owen
Carys Owen Poetry 