SomeAre Solstice - Reflections of the PEACE

Haida Gwaii

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Rainforests

Janina and family enjoyed a stellar visit to British Columbia's Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) in 2007.  Poetry and photos on these pages reflect the intensity and serenity of Haida Gwaii - enjoy... and if you EVER get the opportunity, make sure you stop and visit Haida Gwaii yourself!
 
Check out these links to take a virtual visit and check back soon to see poetry and pictures of Haida Gwaii...

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Queen Charlotte Islands

Queen Charlotte Islands Map

Haida Heritage Centre

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At Gray Bay

Gray Bay                                       

By J. Carlstad

2002

 

All

    around me

are the sounds

             of the sea

                   squeaking, squirting

       oozing, whispering

                rustling, crackling

        life

   scrabbling, scuttling

              under rocks

   closing up

             forming a fortress

against unforgiving sun and air

              until

                      the tide

                               has turned.

Softly sighing

                   waves

                              caress the shore

             receding

    rippling gently

                     breaking quietly

          upon

                   the sands

       embracing rugged

                   time-worn rocks

until the tide

              has turned.

 

Eagle soars silently

                                 on high

         soaring by

                   until the island forest

         absorbs his form

into the green

                that is all around

       this gray bay.

 

Viking Forests
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Ferry Crossing – Aug 2

By J. Carlstad

 

I’m waiting, waiting

For the ways, the waters

That will part these waves

For me

These days

Of wonder, of doubt

Of fears, of joys

Just wanna shout

Let things just be

Let me be me

 

A need to share, to care

This soul,

As a whale surfacing, sounding in the

Light and air

Diving back into the depths

Of reality and necessities

Life bears

 

Yeah – feel the wind whip my hair

As I stand here and stare

Away

          Far out to sea

The waves heave and sway

Come what may

And I’m waiting for the whales

 

Seabirds flock

Pattering across the waters

Like the time that’s rushing away

  

These days of wonder, of doubt

Of fears, of joys

Just wanna shout

Let things just be

Let me be me

I’m waiting for the whales

 

 

And I stand at the bow

Searching the spaces

For signs, for the traces

Of what I should do

Who I’ll be

Earth, sea, and sky

Thor’s hammer, my eyes

Straining to see what I’ll see

 

These days

Of wonder, of doubt

Of fears, of joys

Just wanna shout

Let things be

Let me be me

 

And I’m waiting for the whales…

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Salmon of the Haida Gwaii

By J. Carlstad

 

 

Soft pink flesh

Flaking

Succulent

Delicious aroma

Arising from the pan

 

Tantalizing

Tasty morsels

Fall upon my plate

Tempting

Tastebuds, memories, stories

Tides of time…

 

“Don’t horse it in”

the guide advised

as the salmon swirled through the water

rounding on the boat

making one last valiant stand

before being reeled in

forever

 

Guiding

Navigating through the channels

Teaching, sharing, inspiring

The guide

Stared speculatively

Across open waters

Speculatively across life

Maneuvering through

Moments, mountains, memories

Creating memories in his own time

In ours…

 

Gray Bays, soaring eagles

Beaming rays through bronze clouds of evening twilight

Raven’s cry, peaks of blue

Memories

Misty memories

Sweep in across the sands of my mind

Creating footprints of their own

Across heart and soul

To be eroded and swept away

With the waves of time

And yet

Some…

Some

Remain ever

Like grains of sand

Rolling in the waves,

Warming in the sun

Drifting with the wind

Seething beneath pelting rains

 

Soft pink flesh

Flaking

Succulent

Delicious aroma

Arising from the pan

 

Tantalizing tasty morsels

Fall upon my plate

Tempting, tasting, testing memories, stories

Ocean waters, islands, tides of time…

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Vaer Deg Selv

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"Be the Change You Wish To See In The World...." Gandhi
 
All Rights Reserved J. Carlstad 2008