My grandparents’ kitchen was indelibly turquoise
their laminate countertops hosted black currant jam parties
berries picked, cooked, poured into paraffin topped jars
and plunged into hot water baths to save them
their laminate countertops hosted black currant jam parties
they drove 45 minutes to buy butter from Stony Creek Dairy
and plunged into hot water baths to save them
their house knew them in the dirt cellar he dug by hand
they drove 45 minutes to buy butter from Stony Creek Dairy
they grew beefsteak tomatoes, and seed potatoes,
their house knew them in the dirt cellar he dug by hand
and the walls held sadness when she could not walk again
they grew beefsteak tomatoes, and seed potatoes,
she cheered for the winners each week on Roller Derby
and the walls held sadness when she could not walk again
Grandpa hung clothes on the line, ignoring the dryer
she cheered for the winners each week on Roller Derby
we sat in lawn chairs and laughed at call-in radio
Grandpa hung clothes on the line, ignoring the dryer
she met Haystack Calhoun at a gas station
we sat in lawn chairs and laughed at call-in radio
Sunday dinner was roast beef tender as a woman’s heart
she met Haystack Calhoun at a gas station
I never heard her say renovate, to keep things current
Sunday dinner was roast beef tender as a woman’s heart
we hunted dew worms, and fished in the Grand River
I never heard her say renovate, to keep things current
he built her a wheelchair ramp up to their front door
we hunted dew worms, and fished in the Grand River
Grandpa said interesting things with his hands
he built her a wheelchair ramp up to their front door
he grew an Old Man cactus high as my shoulders
Grandpa said interesting things with his hands
it takes a lot of years to watch cacti flourish
he grew an Old Man cactus high as my shoulders
their house is still there, though the farm is long sold
it takes a lot of years to watch cacti flourish
we found trilliums and arrowheads in the cool summer woods
their house is still there, though the farm is long sold
the hungry world came, in time, to taste us
we found trilliums and arrowheads in the cool summer woods
their laminate countertops hosted black currant jam parties
the hungry world came, in time, to taste us
and we plunged into baptismal tanks to save us.
Header photograph © Charlotte Hamrick.
Belfast, Northern Ireland, to Kelowna, British Columbia, Lesley-Anne Evans approaches her life with intense curiosity. She is a celebrant of the land, spirit, and human experience, and a community minded champion of the arts. Lesley-Anne’s poetry is Canlit. published, passionately performed, and installed as Pop-Up Poetry from time-to-time. Lesley-Anne loves taking photographs of unusual things.
It’s good to return to Barren and remember the early days, poetry, and photos. Please let me know if I can supply a photo of myself to place in the bio bar. Best, Lesley-Anne