One last sweet mulberry of summer
Was well worth reaching, reaching for
Like a good friend, rare,
And well worth reaching, reaching for.

Cy, Sept. 2, 2008

Once again, the leaves bud forth,
Sprouting Your glorious life-force,
The birdsong of springtime fills my ears,
Cardinals, geese and red-winged blackbirds
Fill my later years.



Cy, May 2, 2007

On The Marriage of Charles and Vanessa

I see a soft new meadow
Firmly rooted in the earth
With new lives sprouting,
Caressed and waving
In the strong, warm, summer wind.
Light and shadow dance
Amongst the tall, thin, bending grasses;
Milkweed and tiger lilies
Blend with purple loose-strife.
Sweet clover spreads its red-white blanket,
Saying, “Don’t tread on me!”
Plants, birds, butterflies and bees
Live here in God’s harmony.

Cy, 1986?

Oh,Jesus!

What glory in your heavens, oh Jesus,
To see the clouds you form!
What glory in your trees, oh Jesus,
To see the leaves you form!
What glory in your flowers, oh Jesus,
To see what blooms you form!
What glory in your birds, oh Jesus,
To hear what songs you form!
What glory in their eggs, oh Jesus,
To see what chicks you form!
What glory in your humans, oh Jesus,
To see what babes you form!
What glory in your mind, oh Jesus,
To hear what words you form!
What glory in your cross, oh Jesus,
To see what churches you form!

Cy, 1984?

Ode to the Ottawa

Sometimes you flow in a torrent.
Sometimes you appear to be so still.
You’re narrow and fast,
Then wide and slow.
You give life to the geese
But you take man’s lives in the snow.
You feed the Canada geese,
But killed the Sweeney brothers too.
You’re bright and smooth and blue,
Then you’re dark and you’re rough and you’re grey;
It depends upon the day.
You’re beautiful and you’re fascinating
Any time of the year.
In summer leaves are green.
The sky is blue
As are you;
A reflection of the day,
All warm, and ready for the day.
In winter, trees are grey,
The sky is white,
And so are you,
All cold
And glistening in the bay.
So constant,
Always there;
Only changing moods;
Mirroring the sky’s full glare.
It’s as though you stare
And expose my soul all bare.

Cy, 1989?

Ode to the Maple Tree

Oh! scarlet maple,
Every year
You fill my eyes
With such surprise;
A delight so red
Before they shed,
Leaves so bright
In full sunlight.
Amongst green leaves
Of other trees;
You signal fall
Before snow falls;
The snow all white
Makes my spirit bright;
A gift of peace
From the prince of peace.
How God’s creation makes me sing
As though the season was really spring.

Cy, Ottawa, ontario