When I did this back in 2019 I swore I would never do it again because it was really hard. A whole lot of really, truly, hard things have happened in my life since then and I now feel up to this challenge once more. I encourage you to give it a try too. You will learn things about poetry and about yourself. I recently revisited something I wrote back then and am surprised and pleased by what the passage of time turned it into.
I am overwhelmed on this 155th anniversary of Canadian Confederation by the unbelievable luck of my being born in this country. The woman in this photo was not born here but she chose to immigrate here. She is my great grandmother, Emily Eliza. On her lap is one of her 16 children. Four of her sons died in service to this country in World War I, and two more were wounded in World War II. Because of them, and her, I have a safe and happy life with all the time I want to spend in my beautiful garden and here with you. She sacrificed her sons so that I didn't have to sacrifice mine. There are mothers in other parts of the world that are not nearly so fortunate. Canada may still have a lot to learn but as countries go 155 is still infancy so let's all just be kind to ourselves and each other.
Peace, love, and joy
Diana
Some years ago
I thought about you
You were just an idea
of someone to love
Closing eyes tight
I prayed the surprise
of the bliss of you
into my life
again and again and again
and then …
I found you
standing over a poem
written by: Diana Joy