Canoe Lake, 1988
It’s hard
to turn around
when
you’re on a portage in the forest
surrounded
by trees
with a
canoe on your shoulders
and a
knapsack on your back
But a
black bear coming down the trail toward you
is a good
motivator
so you
manage somehow
It’s hard
to run
through
the forest
with a
canoe on your shoulders
and a
knapsack on your back
But a
black bear behind you
that you
can’t see for the canoe
is a good
motivator
We got to
the shore
threw the
canoe in the water
the
knapsacks in the canoe
and were
about to push off
when I
said “Where’s the camera?
I need to
get a picture”
The photo
of the bear didn’t turn out
(black
bear in the shadow of the trees)
but I got
a good one of you
scrambling
into the canoe
I Have
Heard the Wild Wolves Sing
Night
falls
on a canoe
trip through Lake Superior Provincial Park
Wearily
we pitch
our tent on an island in the middle of the lake
The fire
makes a circle of light
our
shadows fall on the rocks outside the ring
We stare
into the glowing embers
as we eat
our rehydrated something dinner
Drowsy, we
lie in our sleeping bags
holding
hands as we drift off to sleep
Awakened
in the pitch dark
by wolves
howling in the distance
Isn’t it
strange that I’m not afraid?
I feel
that we belong here
I have
heard the wild wolves sing
I think
they are singing to us
Victor
Kennedy was born in Scotland, grew up in Canada, and currently lives in
Slovenia. A semi-retired Professor of English Literature, he spends his time
writing poetry, walking his dog, and trying to play classical guitar.
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